George Liddard will challenge Michel Soro for the IBO middleweight title on December 12 at the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Matchroom announced. The DAZN card also features Josh Padley against Moussa Gholam for the interim WBA super featherweight belt.
Liddard (15-0, 9 KOs) gets an experienced opponent after collecting British, Commonwealth and European titles. The 24-year-old stopped Dario Morello in the eighth round in August, following a points win over Tyler Denny in March.
Those results earned Liddard a move beyond the domestic and European circuit. Soro provides a chance to show whether he can maintain that progress against someone with experience against higher-level opposition.
The French-based Soro won the IBO belt by stopping Hassan Mwakinyo in the ninth round in June in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. His career includes fights against Brian Castaño and Israil Madrimov, giving him considerably more experience than the unbeaten challenger.
Matchroom is promoting the bout as Liddard’s first world title opportunity. The IBO sits outside the four major sanctioning bodies, however, and beating Soro would be a step toward establishing Liddard among the leading middleweights rather than proof he has reached the top.
“These are the fights I have looked forward to throughout my career,” said Liddard. “I am putting everything on the line in such a prestigious place.”
Padley’s appearance gives the undercard another recognizable name. The former electrician is familiar to fans from his fight with Shakur Stevenson and now faces Gholam with an interim belt available.
Heavyweights David Adeleye and Leo Atang are also scheduled to appear, although their opponents have not been announced. Adeleye is due to fight in Los Angeles on November 14 before returning in Monaco, while Atang has an October 24 appearance in Sheffield first.
Ishmael Davis against Junaid Bostan completes the announced lineup.
