FORMER world champion Liam Smith is working his way back to another title shot. On May 8 he travels to Ekaterinburg to fight Russiaโs Magomed Kurbanov.
โSpain, Mexico, America. Iโve fought a few times in America now, I fought in Texas, Vegas, Arizona. I fought in Hermosillo, Mexico. I donโt mind, I like fighting away,โ Smith tells Boxing News. โI donโt care where I box, I donโt care who I box. Put an opponent in front of me and Iโll work to a gameplan to beat him, and Iโm confident of beating him. This opponent Iโm absolutely confident of beating. Itโs a good opponent, itโs a solid opponent with a world ranking and heโs an unbeaten opponent. So itโs a very, very good fight, at a good stage in my career, puts me right back in the mix.โ
Smith is already ranked third with the WBO and this bout is for their International strap. Victory would push him closer to a mandatory position. โI feel a young 32. I wouldnโt be in the sport if I didnโt feel I had something left to offer,โ Liam said. โI think Iโve got a good solid two years left. I havenโt had many beatings. The Canelo fight I got stopped in, the [Jaime] Munguia fight I went 12 rounds, I never really took a beating in the Munguia fight.”
โThereโs no one in my division where I think Iโll never beat him,โ Smith continued. โI definitely feel Iโve got another world title in me.
โI think I would have murdered Patrick Teixeira [the former holder of the WBO belt]. Now [Brian] Castanoโs just won it, I think I beat Castano. I think Castanoโs a top fighter but heโs a fighter I do believe I can beat.โ
Smith doesnโt rule out an eventual move up to middleweight. If Liam Williams, whom Smith holds two wins over, beats WBO 160lb champion Demetirus Andrade that could be of interest.
Liam also has a past with Chris Eubank Jnr. โWeโve got history, weโve done a lot of sparring together. I think that can easily be made especially now heโs got Sauerland [promoting him]. We had good spars. To be honest with you at that time, I thought he was limited. But a very, very good athlete. Now I think heโs improved and got better,โ Smith said. โHe can throw four, six punches at what his power is 100%. If he hits 70% hard, he can throw six punches at that powerโฆ He doesnโt need to throw two light, one hard, he can put his punches together. I think heโs a fit, strong athlete in that sense. But ability wise and boxing IQ, heโs very limited.
โItโs a fight Iโd be massively confident Iโd win. If Iโm fit and in shape and can do the 12 rounds, Iโm massively confident of beating Chris Eubank. I know while weโre both fresh he doesnโt win one round, until fitness and strength comes into it then he comes into his own.โ
Liam Smith has had an entire year out but he remains determined. โIโve got more fire, more enthusiasm, more love for it now, than I have done for the last two or three years,โ he declares. โIโve just got this love for the sport again and this fire in my belly to prove Iโve probably still got a world title left in me. I donโt know what it is but I feel motivated more than ever.โ