Between 2000 and 2004 Liam moved through the divisions from featherweight (52kg) through to light-welterweight (63.5kg) as he naturally grew older and bigger. After proving his skills at local, national and European levels, he soon started to take on fiercer international adversaries like Preechapon Por Nuongubon of Thailand, Ait Said Aberderahman of Morroco, and Satoru Vasikova at home in Japan.

During this period Liam took the W.A.K.O world title from Italian champion Emannuel Di Profetis; becoming a world champion himself at only 19 by technical knockout. Last minute injury caused the defending champion Massimo Rizzoli to pull out and the title vacated. In spite of the late replacement opponent and fighting under different rules (no elbows, clinch and low kick rules) Liam proved he could already come up strong against much more experienced fighters.

Now as a World champion Liam set his sights on even more challenging opponents. Liam soon added to his regional S.I.M.T.A belt the European title of the same organisation; when victorious against reigning European champion Mohamed Ajuou of the Netherlands.

From 2000 to 2005, Liam continued undefeated against high-calibre fighters like Benzouaoua Hakim, Abdoulaye M’baye and Japan-based Hiromasa Masuda.