By Tom Prosser Welsh boxing star Liam Williams says he is looking forward to “shutting up” Chris Eubank Jr when the pair battle it out in Cardiff next month. Eubank (31-2, 23 KO’s) and Williams (23-3, 18 KO’s) both lay claim to being the number one middleweight in the UK and have traded verbal jabs numerous times in recent years. Now Eubank is taking the fight to Williams’ doorstep as he heads to the Motorpoint Arena to face the Welshman from Clydach Vale.  

Dear Callum or Mr. Pitch Invader, I hear you like a beer or two and are up for a laugh. Well, I wondered if you fancied following up your pitch-invading antics at the Principality Stadium the other day with another sporting challenge.

Liam Williams’ bid to become Wales’ 13th boxing world champion ultimately ended in courageous defeat in Florida on Saturday night. The Clydach Vale man bravely picked himself up off the canvas after a disastrous opening two rounds to take reigning WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade all the way. Few would have predicted the fight going the distance after Andrade completely dominated the first six minutes, putting Williams down in the second round with a right-left combination.

Two of the biggest names in British boxing are backing Liam Williams to join the list of Welsh world champions on Saturday. Joe Calzaghe – who held a world title longer than any other Welsh fighter – says Williams has got what it takes to follow in his footsteps and rule the boxing world. Meanwhile, legendary fight promoter and manager Frank Warren also believes the Welshman can claim the WBO middleweight crown against undefeated champion Demetrius Andrade at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Liam Williams believes Wales are good enough to create history this evening. The full-back will help his country earn a fifth Grand Slam of the Six Nations era – more than any other nation – if they beat France in Paris. After the Warren Gatland era ended, Wales suffered their worst tournament campaign since 2007, finishing fifth in last year’s 2020 competition under new coach Wayne Pivac.

Liam Williams was first to the punch in the war of words with Demetrius Andrade after the WBO middleweight title fight between the two was confirmed. The Clydach Vale boxer has described his American opponent as a “complete weirdo” ahead of their world title clash in Florida on April 17.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has promised his team will close down the threat of Wales – and in particular the returning Liam Williams – at Murrayfield on their way to backing up their historic win over England. Hogg led Scotland to their first win at Twickenham since 1983 with a display against the pre-tournament favourites England that was more dominant than the 11-6 scoreline suggested. Another win for Scotland, who have never won the competition since Italy joined to make it the Six Nations in 2000, would put them in a commanding position.

Liam Williams is set to return to the Wales team against Scotland this weekend after having seen out his three-match ban following a red card playing for the Scarlets against Cardiff Blues. James Dodd believes the Lions star is exactly what Wales need in order to get their backline moving freely again. Liam Williams was shown a red card for his head clash with back rower Shane Lewis-Hughes at the Cardiff City Stadium in January – an act that proved old habits die hard. While Williams has become one the most exciting players in the world, he cut his teeth as a youngster playing club rugby for Waunarlwydd in Swansea , rather than in any cosseted regional academy.

The Scarlets host Cardiff Blues on Friday night in a repeat of their showdown of a fortnight ago. That game ended with victory for the Blues and proved a spicy one with Liam Williams receiving a red card. The Blues’ former Scarlet Josh Turnbull reckons part two could be just as eventful, as he told Graham Thomas. Josh Turnbull admits there will be hunger on both sides when the Scarlets host Cardiff Blues on Friday night – but insists no-one will be looking to take a bite out of sidelined Liam Williams. The two regions sit down for second helpings just two weeks after tucking into each in a bruising, pulsating battle at the Cardiff City Stadium where Wales full-back Williams was sent off, before the Blues claimed a 29-20 victory.

Glenn Delaney believes his 14-man Scarlets side have learnt well from their defeat to the Cardiff Blues earlier in the month – and can now extract their revenge. The regions met at the start of January at the Cardiff City Stadium, with the capital region running out 29-20 winners. The big talking point was Liam Williams’ red card in the first half after a head-on-head clash with his Wales teammate, the Blues’ Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Scarlets coach Glenn Delaney has defended Liam Williams after his sending off against the Cardiff Blues which could cost Williams his Wales place at the start of the Six Nations. The Wales full back was sent off in the 37th minute to ruin Scarlets’ chances of a hat-trick of Welsh derby wins, as the Blues ran out victors, 29-20 at Cardiff City Stadium. Williams rushed headlong into a ruck and clashed heads with prone Blues flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes and, after TMO replays, the wing was ordered off.

Gareth Davies has backed Wayne Pivac to turn things around with Wales and says the evidence for his optimism lies in the coach’s impact with the Scarlets. The Wales scrum half, fresh from another superb try to cap his 200th appearance for the Scarlets at Bath in the Heineken Champions Cup last weekend, has admitted Pivac’s men weren’t where they wanted to be when they gathered for the autumn internationals. Wales lost their first three games, to France, Scotland and Ireland, beat Georgia and then went down to England. They won their final game but didn’t really manage to finish with the anticipated flourish against Italy.