“When I come, you know I’m coming proper,” that’s what Liam Davies said when he gate-crashed Shabaz Masoud‘s interview with Dev Sahani. Next weekend, the IBO super bantamweight champion will get the opportunity to prove what he said three months ago. The title defense between the two rivals takes place on November 2 at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. The two were supposed to meet in July. However, Davies’ illness forced a cancellation.

The month offers a slew of exciting lineups, including the much-talked-about Mike Tyson–Jake Paul clash. Nevertheless, the all-British bout between Davies and Masoud doesn’t fall short in offering the intrigue and excitement expected from a showdown between two unbeaten warriors. Queensberry’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ card features some good title fights, including one between former undisputed champion Chantelle Cameron and Patricia Berghult. Both Davies and Masoud must be busy putting the final touches on their training camp. So, in the meantime, let’s explore how the duo measures up against each other ahead of their highly anticipated match.

Liam Davies vs. Shabaz Masoud: Strengths on the Scale

Born on March 31 in Donnington, Davies stands 5 feet and 10 inches, or 177 centimeters tall. Masoud, like Davies, turned 28 in March (4th) and records a height of 5 feet and seven inches, or 170 centimeters. As far as hand reach goes, both the champion and the challenger appear to be on par. Against Davies’ 71. 7 inches or 182 centimeters, Masoud boasts a reach of 71 inches or 180 centimeters.

The final weigh-ins of the card should take place a day or two before the fight night. Nevertheless, in his last fight against the Mexican Erik Robles, Liam Davies registered a weight of 122 pounds. Shabaz Masoud weighed around 127.7 pounds when he faced Nicaraguan Marvin Solano.

As far as the records go, both Davis and Masoud have yet to face a loss. Though separated by months, their professional journey commenced together in 2018. Probably on account of his absence from the ring in 2020, Masoud couldn’t match Davies as far as the overall number of engagements is concerned. Out of the sixteen wins that he has fought thus far, the Donnington-born champion secured half through early stoppages, thus leaving him with a knockout-to-win rate of 50%. Only 30% of ‘Maverick’s 13 wins came via knockouts.

Liam Davies vs. Shabaz Masoud: Who has the edge?

Both Masoud and Davies have clashed in the past, thus lending that extra air of intrigue to the square-up. Reportedly, the Rochdale, Lancashire-born fighter won two of their amateur fights. So many are eagerly waiting to see if Liam Davies can finally turn the tables on the ‘Maverick’. As far as oddsmakers go, with 73% of the odds favoring him, Davies emerges as the clear favorite to win the contest.

However, the task ahead may not be as easy as it sounds. Probably the confidence in Liam Davies stems from his ring activity and performance during the last few fights. Following the title win against Robles in March, Davies will be stepping into the ring for the second time this year. After the 2022 Ionut Baluta fight that fetched him the European title, he won the last three matches through knockouts.

Keeping aside his point win over Solano, Shabaz Masoud’s earlier fight against Jose Sanmartin ended in a split-decision win. Like Davies, he will also fight for the second time this year. However, in 2023, he fought only once, against Jack Bateson on November 11.

Known for possessing strong fundamentals, many find a lot of similarities between the fighting styles of Liam Davis and former champion Jorge Linares. Like the Venezuelan three-division champion, Davies follows an aggressive approach, throwing well-balanced combinations. His shots land with precision and studied neatness. To deflect Davies’ attack, Shabaz Masoud will need to rely on all his technical wizardry, for which he is widely known.

Probably Masoud might enter the ring with the thoughts of past wins over Davies ringing all over his mind. With a superior ring IQ, he could pack off Davies. However, will that be enough to stop a fighter for whom the fight goes beyond a professional matchup? “Most people don’t know, but this goes way back to something deeper than just the fight. I couldn’t give a sh*t about the belt. The belt is irrelevant. This is a fight I need to win. My back’s up a wall, and it’s where I f**king love it,” said Liam Davis, laying out his thoughts on the match.

The stakes are high for both Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud. In case he manages to defeat the former, ‘Maverick’ would move up in the super bantamweight ranks, increasing his chances for a title challenge in the long run. For Davies, the win would cement his place in the division’s top contenders. Remember, this is the weight class where ‘The Monster’ rules the roost.

Thus, fans can look forward to a thrilling showdown—a clash of styles where both fighters are expected to put forth a dazzling display of power and technique.