West Ham are away against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon but heading to the Copper Box on Saturday evening, you would've been forgiven for thinking they had an evening home kick-off.

Hammers fan Liddard told The Ring of his dream to main event the Olympic Stadium one day, a milestone no-one has managed, and he took a small step towards doing that with a 12-round, unanimous-decision win (116-112, 116-112, 116-112) against former European champion Tyler Denny.

Immediately post-fight after praising his talent's fitness levels down the stretch, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn shared that former 154-pound WBO world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs) had agreed to fight Liddard on Saturday night, before asking for more time to mull a decision. That could be a possibility later this year, though the promoter shared their wish that the Billericay man can win the Lonsdale belt outright with two more defenses.

"Fitness won him the fight," Hearn was keen to stress.

"The championship experience shows just how far he can go ... Conway and Denny at 23 years of age, it's all part of the development. He sold out York Hall, nearly 5,000 [fans] in here tonight, we can't hold him back but must remember his age, giving people value for money and a great atmosphere, he deserves that support."

Given an IBF trinket title was also on the line, Liddard (14-0, 8 KOs) will be in line for a world rankings boost come April. He's ranked No. 12 with the WBA and No. 15 on the IBF's 160-pound standings at the time of writing.

The first round is always intriguing in a matchup like this, youth against experience, and the visitor's punch resistance was tested in the opening minute with a series of piercing jabs that forced him to take a backwards step. Denny (21-4-3, 1 KO) did his best to muddy the champion's work, but Liddard relished imposing his will as the bigger man and made the 34-year-old look shell-shocked at times by the straight punches catching him clean.

Denny seemed to be compromised, or at least lack balance in his legs, and the longer their contest went, the more apparent that became. Liddard needed to maintain separation though Denny was gladly clinching and establishing some rhythm, making the champion pay for being defensively lax in spots during a fiery third frame.

Rounds four and five followed the same pattern, Denny triumphantly raising his arm aloft at the end of the fifth as if to say, I'm still here and kicking, while Liddard couldn't help but fall into the same traps a rugged veteran had set.

Wrestling and keeping their exchanges exclusively at close-range favored the older man, who weaved his way into punching range and baited the 23-year-old into trading stiff shots rather than keeping matters at distance. Denny landed a sweeping left hand Liddard had to acknowledge, gamely beckoning him forward again, at the end of round eight before they took turns unloading downstairs with a minute left in the ninth.

Liddard couldn't mask his frustration at the persistent holding in the final minute of round ten, though he gave Denny the opportunity to spoil and stifle his work. They jostled for position in the pocket for periods during the penultimate frame, Denny too brave for his own good before reverting to clinching whenever buzzed by a big shot.

Referee Bob Williams didn't exactly exert his authority to discourage any clinching, but Liddard nonetheless didn't stop swinging as they shared a warm embrace centre ring at the final bell.