Liam Wilson

Liam Wilson (born 18 March 1996) is an Australian professional boxer who competes in the super featherweight division. A native of Redcliffe, Queensland, and fighting out of Caboolture. Standing at 5 ft 9½ in with a 70-inch reach, he has become one of Australia’s most prominent fighters on the international scene.

Wilson turned professional in 2018 and quickly rose through the domestic ranks, winning the Australian super featherweight title in just his fifth bout. His early career was marked by a string of knockout victories, and he later added the IBF Youth and multiple WBO regional titles to his résumé. In 2021, he faced Filipino contender Joe Noynay twice, losing the first meeting but avenging the defeat with a spectacular second-round knockout in their rematch, which earned him the WBO Asia Pacific title.

His breakout opportunity came in February 2023, when he challenged Emanuel Navarrete for the vacant WBO world super featherweight title in Arizona. Wilson dropped Navarrete in the fourth round, but the Mexican rallied to stop him in the ninth. Despite the loss, Wilson’s performance won him international respect and further big-fight opportunities. He later challenged former two-division champion Oscar Valdez in March 2024, but was defeated by stoppage in the seventh round.

In dissecting Liam Wilson’s boxing technique, a standout aspect is his adept use of the probing jab as a multifaceted tool, especially when fighting off the back leg. Notably, Wilson employs a rising jab technique, enticing opponents to try and catch it, thereby creating openings for subsequent power punches. His strategic use of directional feints adds a layer of complexity, reminiscent of Canelo’s technique. Wilson fluidly changes the trajectory of his jab mid-punch, circling around with a looping motion, almost resembling a stiff-armed hook.

The brilliance lies in Wilson’s ability to seamlessly transition from one punch to another, converting jabs into hooks mid-action, all while maintaining a solid foundation on his back leg. This directional finesse keeps his opponents guessing and struggling to anticipate the incoming strikes. Wilson’s unique approach involves extending his jab and refraining from fully retracting it, enabling him to unleash rapid-fire combinations from various angles.

By employing straight, looping, and varied jabs, Wilson effectively attacks all sides of his opponent’s guard, making it challenging to execute head movement and evade punches from multiple directions. Observing his tactical mastery, Wilson strategically blocks his opponent’s vision, much like Lomachenko’s technique, ensuring that his back leg serves as a stable base for his dynamic movements.

By subtly obstructing their line of sight, Wilson creates opportunities to load up on powerful shots, leveraging the strength generated from his back leg. The diversity in his jab angles allows him to tailor his punch selection to each situation, leaving opponents uncertain and susceptible to his versatile offensive arsenal. Wilson takes this strategy a step further by using his jab as a framing tool, guiding it into the path of his punches, adding an extra layer of precision to his striking game.