Liam Cameron Driven by Heartache as He Prepares for November 1 Clash with Troy Jones

Liam Cameron is preparing for one of the most emotionally charged fights of his career, following the recent death of his best friend, affectionately known as ‘Blobby’. The 34-year-old from Sheffield is channeling his grief into training as he looks ahead to his bout with Troy Jones on November 1.

Cameron is no stranger to personal tragedy. In 2021, he faced the heartbreaking loss of his step-daughter, Tiegan, while also battling alcohol addiction. At the time, he was far from the athlete he is today—both physically and mentally. But through sheer determination, the former Commonwealth middleweight champion transformed his life. He shed significant weight and completed a punishing 100-mile run, raising funds to install a memorial bench in Tiegan’s honor.

Now, he’s applying that same resilience to cope with the loss of Blobby, pouring his pain into every session in the gym. While Cameron has always trained with intensity, this latest loss has added a deeper emotional fuel to his fire.

The news came as a profound shock. “He was my best friend,” Cameron told Boxing News. “When I was at rock bottom, he helped me get back to boxing. I could talk to him about anything. He was a huge boxing fan and always believed in me, even when the odds were against me.”

The absence of daily conversations has left a noticeable void. “When you’re used to speaking to someone every day, and then they’re gone, it’s like, ‘What do I do now?’” he said.

Despite the emotional toll, Cameron never considered pulling out of the fight. “I’m a tough individual,” he said. “Training hasn’t stopped—I’ve been hitting the hills in the Peak District. That’s what he would’ve wanted. He always told me, ‘Get those big fights and change your life, Liam.’”

Originally slated to appear on the undercard of Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker, Cameron now finds himself in a more prominent position following an injury to Daniel Lapin. He’ll face the dangerous Troy Jones (13-1, 6 KOs) at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, in what could be a pivotal moment for his career.

Cameron is coming off a difficult second-round stoppage loss to Ben Whittaker in April, but he’s determined to use this next fight as a platform for redemption.

“After that Whittaker fight, I gave myself three weeks off, but I’ve been back in the gym ever since,” said Cameron, who now boasts a record of 23-7-1 (10 KOs). “That’s about 15 weeks of solid training.”

Despite Jones’ impressive record, Cameron isn’t concerned with his opponent’s reputation. “I don’t watch my opponents anymore,” he explained. “The last time I did that was with Lyndon Arthur, watching him knock everyone out on YouTube. I’ve not seen anything of Troy Jones.

“No disrespect, but my last three fights were bigger on paper than this one. Right now, it’s me vs. me. I’m not focused on what he’s going to do—I’m focused on what I need to do.”