A PROFESSIONAL boxer from Melksham has received an award for his services to the sport, as he prepares to hang up his boxing gloves and retire at the end of the year.
Boxer Liam Richards, also known as Rocco Richards, was presented with his accolade for reaching 15 years in the sport and 106 fights, at the British Boxing Board of Control Awards 2023 held in London on Sunday 12th November.
“It was really nice to get this award,” says Liam, who received the award from boxing legend John Conteh, the former World light-heavyweight champion. “There were a lot of boxing legends in the hotel for the event and it was great to be able to chat with them.
“Most people retire after about 30 fights and when you reach 100 fights you become known as a centurion in the sport; there’s only a handful of centurions in the country. I’ve had a really good career, but now I have a young family and I am looking forward to retiring.”
Liam says that before boxing, football was his main sport and he was playing for Melksham under 18s, pushing to move up into the seniors’ team. He explained, “In the season break I trained at The Contender Boxing Gym to try and get really fit for football, but then boxing took over. I was offered an amateur fight and won that fight, then it snowballed from there. I was then spotted at a fight in Trowbridge, where I was asked if I wanted to sign to become professional.
“After speaking with my family, we decided that even if I did one professional fight and then no more, that would still be really good. Boxing then became my main sport and here I am, 106 fights later and about to retire. I have been all over the country competing from London, to Manchester and Sheffield. All over the place.”
When Liam started boxing, he was in the featherweight category, then moved up to heavyweight. He said, “I don’t think it’s a compliment to be called ‘tough’ in the sport. I don’t want to be called tough. I want to be known as a sensible boxer. My aim is to not get hit. Boxing is a dangerous sport.
“There was one time when I was stopped and that’s when I took a few months off from the sport and reflected a bit. It’s a serious sport, you can’t get complacent with it.
“One of the highlights of my career is the early days before I turned professional, growing with the boxing family. Another was a fight that I did in Bath and won by knockout. My wife was there for that one.
“I just want to give thanks to Mark Kent, my trainer at The Contender Gym and thanks to my lifelong sponsor, Chris from CJS, for all the support they have given me with medicals and equipment.”
Now preparing to retire Liam, who is also a professional coffee roaster, has started a coffee business with his wife, called Roc and Floss. As part of their business, they have a coffee van that currently parks up at the Market Place during market day on Tuesdays.
Before he retires from the sport, there’s a few more fights in the diary. “I don’t think I will reflect on my boxing career until I have properly finished,” says Liam. “That’s when I will be opening the champagne.”
Pictured: Liam, right, with ex-world champion John Conteh
