Barrow light heavyweight Liam Conroy has said it would mean a lot if his European title fight against Steven Ward was named Fight of the Year.

Conroy faced off against Ward in his hometown at Belfast’s Ulster Hall in what was a supercharged and brutal fight in June that was stopped in the eighth round due to the amount of blood that was coming out of deep cut above Ward’s left eye.

The fight went to the judges, with all three scoring it 76-75 in Ward’s favour, showing just how close a bout that was about as far removed from a typical cagey title match as you can get.

It has led to widespread calls for it to be named Fight of the Year by the British Boxing Board of Control, which would be a great accolade given the amount of quality bouts that have already taken place across the country in 2019.

Conroy said: “It would mean quite a lot, really, because there have been some great fights put on this year and for people to have enjoyed it and for fans to have really got behind it and though of it as a great fight means a lot to me.

“Considering I lost it, something positive would come out of it after how hard I trained and how hard we both fought.

“It’s been great to have had some positive feedback from it.”

It has been an exciting comeback from a groin injury that kept him sidelined for the best of a year for Conroy, who also faced Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi for the Lonsdale Belt at London’s Copper Box Arena in March.

There’s more to come from the 27-year-old this year, as he’s been entered into the Golden Contract tournament by promoters MTK Global, where the winner earns a two-year, five-fight deal that has a six-figure purse guaranteed for each bout.

Conroy said: “Even though the fights haven’t gone my way, in terms of the opportunities I’ve been given it’s been the best year of my career, which is unexpected, really, after having a year injured before that.

“It’s been a great year and this is just another great opportunity that’s come my way.

“I can’t thank MTK enough for going out and getting these opportunities for me and putting me in the position to try and win these great titles. I just need to get one won now.”

Before that, however, Conroy will be lending his supporting his fellow Barrovians Mike McGoldrick and Ross Cooksey in their next fights at the University of Bolton Stadium on Friday, September 13.

Conroy said: “Obviously, I train with them both and I’ve seen that they’re very dedicated and they’re improving leaps and bounds.

“I think Barrow is becoming a bit of a boom town for boxing and we’ve got a lot of lads going out there and giving it their best. It’s great to see and I’m glad to be part of it.”