AFTER steadily progressing up the ranks and claiming British and Commonwealth honours along the way, unbeaten Liverpool super-welterweight Liam Smith, 21-0-1 (11), reached the Promised Land in October. With his three boxing brothers (Paul, Stephen and Callum) watching on, the 27-year-old stopped Americaโs John Thompson in the seventh round to collect the vacant WBO title.
So, how does it feel to be able to call yourself a world champion?
It feels very good โ itโs started to sink in a bit now. The publicity and the media reaction I got during the week following my world title win was very strong. Itโs a great feeling.
And youโve got the bragging rights in the Smith household now, after becoming the first of the family to win a world titleโฆ
Yeah! Itโs not exactly bragging rights, itโs just that Iโm the one whoโs in the limelight at the moment, and Iโm the first one whoโs received all this publicity and media reaction [for winning a global belt]. Every time Iโd won a title in the past, one of my brothers had done the same thing before me.
For example, when I won the Commonwealth [super-welterweight] title [with a unanimous 12-round decision against Steve OโMeara in December 2012], my brother Stephen had already done the same [in the featherweight division]. Then, when I won the British [super-welter] title [unanimously over 12 against Erick Ochieng in September 2013], Iโd already seen two of my brothers, Paul and Stephen, do it before me [Paul at super-middleweight, and Stephen at featherweight and super-feather]. Donโt get me wrong, I was very, very happy for my brothers when they won the British and Commonwealth titles. And of course, I obviously wanted Paul to win when he twice fought Arthur Abraham [for the WBO super-middle belt] โ I wish to God heโd won. I knew how hard it was to win a world title after watching Paul fight for it on two occasions, so when I managed to win one, I was absolutely buzzing.
How important has the support of your brothers been, not only in your world title win, but in your career as a whole?
Theyโve been a massive help, and they still are. Iโve got them to thank for a lot of what Iโve achieved in the sport so far, especially my eldest brother, Paul. Heโd obviously been in my position before [fighting for world honours], so he was able to give me some good advice, which made me feel calm on the night โ I couldnโt believe how relaxed I was. As I said, every situation Iโve been in, I feel like Iโve been there before, as Iโve seen my brothers go through the same thing โ I get more nervous before my brothersโ fights than my own.
When I sat down in the changing room before my Commonwealth title shot, Iโd watched Stephen do it before.
And when I walked to the ring to challenge for the British title, Iโd seen Paul and Stephen do the same before me. It was exactly the same when I was in the changing room before my world title fight. All the publicity and media focus โ Iโd seen it all before with Paul. Thatโs why I just felt so comfortable in the situation โ it was down to my brothers.
All three of your brothers โ Paul, Stephen and Callum โ are promoted by Matchroom, while you are guided by Frank Warrenโs Queensberry Promotions. Some people may have expected you to follow your siblings, but
you remained with Frank. Do you think this decision has been vindicated now that youโve won a world strap?
Well Paulโs had a couple of [world title] chances, and Stephenโs going to get his chance next. From my point of view, it just seems to have worked out well for me with Frank. He promised me that if I kept doing my job in the ring, heโd get me a world title shot at home, and thatโs exactly what he did. He delivered for me, and I delivered in the ring by winning the world title.
The partnership has worked for us both. Thereโs been loyalty shown on both sides, from me and Frank. At the end of the day, weโre a team, and weโre doing well.
Your opponent in your WBO title fight, John Thompson, was very tall and rangy. Did you find him awkward to deal with because of this?
Yeah, early on he was. But when I watched it back on TV recently, it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was on the night. I probably did lose the first couple of rounds, and maybe the fifth too โ I just gave round five away because I didnโt do enough. Watching the fight back, all he really did was land a few jabs.
He was throwing loads of punches just to keep me off of him, as I was applying good pressure. He was awkward at times, but it wasnโt as bad as I thought it was going to be.
It was very close on the scorecards before you stopped Thompson โ one judge had the American ahead by two rounds, while the other two judges had the fight level. Did you always feel comfortable and confident that youโd come through and get the win?
I was quietly confident, and I knew Iโd get to him at some point in the fight. I didnโt want to rely on it, but I knew deep down that Iโd stop him. I was happy with the way it ended. There were no arguments from Thompsonโs side. It wasnโt as if the referee jumped in and saved him โ he was on the floor. Iโm glad it wasnโt a close points decision that could be argued about and debated.
It was a conclusive stoppage โ a proper good ending.
Do you intend on being a busy and active world champion?
Iโd love to defend my title frequently. While Iโm injury-free, I hope to be busy and active. Iโm obviously not comparing myself to him, but look at [unified world middleweight titlist] Gennady Golovkin. Heโs at the very, very top level in the sport โ right in the pound-for-pound list.
Heโs a proper busy champion. As long as I steer clear of injuries, I want to fight regularly โ itโs my job and something I love doing, so why not?
Do you hope to be involved in a unification fight?
One million per cent, I want a unification. I want a massive fight back at home or abroad. I want one of the big names in the division, hopefully one of the other champions. Iโd love the Jermall Charlo fight โ the chance to unify my WBO title and his IBF. Thatโs a route Iโd love to go down.
Iโd love to go over to America and challenge for another world title.
Would you say there is all to play for in the super-welterweight division at the current time?
The divisionโs becoming very strong, and itโs massively wide open, unlike some of the other weight classes. Youโve got some good fighters [at super-welter]. The likes of the two Charlo brothers, Jermall and Jermell, plus Lara, Julian Williams, Demetrius Andrade. There are a lot of good fighters who are coming through, and theyโll all be going for world titles, and Iโm just glad that Iโm part of that mix. There are some massive fights to be made for me down the line.
Looking at the four major governing bodiesโ world super-welter rankings, one thing that jumps out is that there are many American boxers included in the ratingsโฆ
Yeah, when you look through the rankings in my division, there are a lot of Americans in there. First and foremost, my goal was to become a world champion, and now Iโve achieved that. Next, Iโd like to defend my title in front of my home fans, and then Iโd like to fight in America. Youโve got the likes of the Charlos, Williams, Andrade, Vanes Martirosyan and Ishe Smith โ theyโre all from America, so that presents an opportunity for me to go and fight over there in the future.
Do you think youโve got what it takes to go on and dominate at 154lbs?
I do, definitely. The division may be wide open, but itโs still very tough, as there are some good kids coming through. Nevertheless, Iโm massively confident that I can go on and pick up more world titles. Iโm only 27 years of age and no oneโs seen the best of me yet. Without being disrespectful to the people
Iโve fought, I havenโt been really pushed yet. I know I can go to levels that I havenโt been to. Iโm only going to get better and better with each fight.
This article was first published in the October 29 issue of Boxing News magazine
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