In the space of 15 weeks, rising middleweight contender George Liddard has headlined a Matchroom NXGN card and been the chief-support act on a bigger bill with very different victories banked as the 23-year-old continues staking his claim for British honours.

While these are milestones he wouldn't have envisaged happening so soon, it's testament to the behind-the-scenes work with a dedicated team led by head coach Tony Sims and an unwavering belief that if you're studious with your craft, those efforts will be rewarded.

After passing a career-best challenge against Derrick Osaze and going the 10-round distance for a first time in January, Liddard bossed proceedings from the off before a 5th-round stoppage of Aaron Sutton to defend his newly-won Commonwealth Silver title.

That matchup was a British title eliminator and having shared the same bill as new champion Kieron Conway (23-3-1, 7 KOs), Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn revealed it was no coincidence post-fight and called their respective bouts two semi-finals. A week shy of two months on from that destructive 5th-round stoppage win, he's eagerly anticipating news.

"I've been getting back into the gym the last few weeks, looking forward to getting a new fight date after a nice couple holidays," Liddard told The Ring.

"Definitely feeling recharged and ready to go back into camp when we get the call. I'm excited for a very big end to the year. I'm hearing October or maybe late September, but want to start camp this month and be in the best shape. I worked my way up and it's interesting seeing how the tables turn, now in a completely different spot to two-and-a-half years ago but this is what I've worked for."

Billericay's Liddard (12-0, 7 KOs) spoke in the build-up about wanting to make history as the country's youngest-ever middleweight champion, eclipsing Nick Blackwell's decade-long record when he achieved the feat with a 7th-round finish of John Ryder aged 25 in 2015.

Ryder moved up a division, twice challenging for world honours before calling time on his career last year and now features in the Sims gym as Liddard's assistant coach. Learning from someone who shared the ring with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, Jaime Munguia and WBO interim light heavyweight titlist Callum Smith is invaluable but serves as a reminder: there's always more that can be done in pursuit of greatness.

"I've watched it [the Sutton win] back a few times since, I look for things that other fighters and coaches would view as weaknesses. I'm pleased, it was a mature performance, patient at times but devastating too and I'm glad it wasn't a one-and-done, got some rounds in there and handled business very well against an opponent with a 19-1 record.

"I learned an awful lot from the Osaze fight, he came to bully me as the younger and less experienced guy, trying to smother and spoil my work but I'm not allowing myself to be bullied. I showed I can box on the back foot, there were mistakes that I could've done better with, we worked on them and that made me sharper heading into the Sutton fight. That was a good showcase for me, showing different areas of my arsenal and learning from it too."

Much like others, he points to learning patience and tempering those aggressive tendencies to suit his fight tempo better as the level of opposition steadily intensifies.

"I'm quite a gung-ho fighter, want to make my mark from the get-go and in previous fights, doing that can affect how I box for the rest of the night. Having done the rounds, I've understood the pace I can fight at now and that has helped me outside the ring too.

"Everyone knows I'm pushing for the British title fight next but if we can't get it over the line, I have to be patient and mature enough to understand it'll come. I'll get the job done against whoever is put in-front of me, that's another step for me maturing as a man, not just a fighter."

While there will be an anxious wait to see how things unfold over the next ten days or so, given the BBBofC's monthly circular is set to be released shortly and Conway's pathway to European honours brews in the background, Liddard can only focus on himself.

If Osaze was the gutcheck he needed to kickstart his year, he was flying on all cylinders and enjoying himself against Sutton to make a durable opponent look rather ordinary.

The Bristol man's first career loss came via a 10-round split decision against Gerome Warburton during a British title eliminator in February 2024 and 15 months later, both were given their second defeat by men with a point to prove for very different reasons.

"On paper, Aaron had a better record - Osaze had been in against better operators, but had an awkward style that would give a lot of people a hard night's work. People will say all sorts, I didn't order it as a British title eliminator but it was and in my eyes, every fight is a step-up. I don't really pay attention to the outside noise but I've put what I've learned into practice and will continue doing so."

Northampton's Conway isn't known as a puncher per se but has power behind his solid fundamentals, reeled off three knockouts in his last four appearances and naturally has sights set on returning to world-level contention after 10-round defeats by Souleymane Cissokho and Austin Williams a year apart on Canelo undercards stateside.

Liddard likes the matchup and insists he wouldn't be so adamant on this being next, if Sims and co weren't confident he was ready.

"It's a great fight, hopefully we can headline with it and make for another solid night of British boxing. I'm not one to say that I'd knock him out but genuinely the way I'm feeling and progressing, I don't see it going any other way. I'm too fast, strong and tough.

"There will be doubters saying it's a step-up too early but when I destroy him, they'll say it was too easy a British title fight. I don't think it's too early and Tony wouldn't put me forward for it if he didn't think I was capable of doing so, let's get it on."

The conversation shifts onto gymmate and friend Jimmy Sains (10-0, 9 KOs), who won the Southern Area title an hour before Liddard's ringwalk. It wasn't another highlight reel knockout, but a comfortable 10-round decision he should appreciate even more now.

"I'm very pleased for him, winning against a tricky opponent in Gideon who comes to win - Sam Gilley found that out - can be an awkward customer for everyone so it was nice to see a shutout win for Jimmy.

"We train together and are a tight-knit bunch, use each other for sparring a lot, eight of his ten fights have been on the same card as me and we've shared a lot of the lights together. Southern Area is a stepping stone towards English title contention next and it's exciting times for our gym, two middleweight prospects coming through."

A quick glance on Liddard's social media channels and you'll see he wasn't just recharging his batteries on holiday.

"I had back-to-back all-inclusive holidays, eating plenty as you can imagine, but had a half-marathon booked beforehand and had to get it done. One hour 31 minutes isn't half-bad for someone who wasn't in prime shape, I enjoy running. A lot of fighters hate roadwork but it's calming for the mind, I enjoy doing difficult things."

He's the only man not named Mark Jeffers who relishes running quite this much and even indulged in some miles abroad during his 23rd birthday celebrations in Rhodes, Greece then 60 miles away in Bodrum, Turkey.

"I can see why some people don't enjoy it - can be very hard at times - but it's all about mind over matter, get mentally stronger and it's still a part of training, just like putting your wraps on and hitting the bag."

Now he's in full flow. Passionately talking about his beloved West Ham's striker problem and a growing love of exploring different cultures, whether that be city breaks or seeing what the fuss is about in southeast Asia.

Armed with improved shot selection and a contingent of fans willing to follow his journey, he'll have plenty of time to tick off destinations from a burgeoning bucket list between camps. Now, his foot is on the proverbial accelerator seeking to conquer domestic level and complete the vaunted prospect-to-contender jump in a division needing a youthful refresh.