Davies at a crossroads as Heaneys journey ends
Two Midlands boxers face contrasting emotions in Birmingham on Saturday as Liam Davies tops a bill that also includes Nathan Heaney having his last professional fight.
For Shropshire's Davies, defending his European featherweight crown is the latest step on a pathway to what the 30-year-old from Telford still hopes will one day mean world title glory.
For 37-year-old Heaney, from Stoke-on-Trent, the former British middleweight champion, it is a different career chapter.
This is, quite simply, the closing chapter.
The popular former teacher has already announced that this is his final fight as a professional.
Roared on by his faithful following of fellow Stoke City fans, this is his "Last Delilah".
From the King's Hall in Stoke, where he first caught the eye after turning professional at the age of 28 in 2017, this last pilgrimage down the M6 to Birmingham has attracted 1,800 punters.
"We've made some incredible nights down the years," Heaney told BBC Radio Stoke. "This is one last celebration to show what we're all about.
"They got me here. We had some great nights at the King's Hall before the TV cameras rolled up and then I proved I belong here when I became British champion. Hopefully this one will have a happy ending."
At a time when the Potters' fortunes on the football field have suddenly taken an upturn after eight years of frustration, maybe Heaney can now give Tom Jones' classic 'Delilah' back to the football club?
Because, in all his time as a pro, it has become his song.
It will get sung again on Saturday - win, lose or draw. Loudly and repeatedly.
But Heaney will be hoping he can hear it for one last time with his hand held on high in the ring. And, to do that, he will have to overcome Welshman Gerome Warburton, who beat him at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 28 March.
As for the man topping the bill at BP Pulse Live (formerly the NEC), proud Salopian Davies is up against Scot, Nathaniel Collins, who is a former British and Commonwealth champion and also former sparring partner.
"I like Nathaniel," said Davies. "We know each other.
"I've been up sparring and he's been down from Scotland. We sparred before the Jason Cunningham fight a few times. I rate him.
"It's a tough fight. But it's definitely one of them that no one can question.
"If I win this one I am ready for a world title."
Since losing his tilt at the world IBO super bantamweight title with the first defeat of his professional career against Stoke-based Shabaz Masoud in November 2024, Davies has fought just twice - but he has won them both.
He won the vacant IBF Inter-Continental featherweight title against Northern Ireland's Kurt Walker at the Nottingham Arena in May 2025, then also won the vacant European featherweight title in the sixth round against Italy's Francesco Grandelli on the same Manchester bill as Heaney in March.
This is now the defence of that European title and another win would put his career right back on track.
"I'm sure it's going to be fireworks," added Davies. "It's him or me and I know who I'm picking every single time.
"I'm prepared. It's just a matter of how, when and what style and it's important for me to make it the best style possible so I can go on the mic and say after with my chest out, it's got to be a title shot.
"In three or four years we're going to be done. I'm going to be a boxing coach. I'd like to help out in the gym and make the next generation of Telford fighters.
"You can see the belts there, the kids come in and see I'm just the same as them, grew up round the corner just like them. In time we can build good boxers. I hope there's many more kids through the years setting good examples, winning titles and giving the generations after them hope because that's what it's all about."