By Keith Idec
Liam Smith made it clear during a press conference Monday that he isn’t at all fearful of Canelo Alvarez.
The unbeaten WBO super welterweight champion from Liverpool, England, is an 8-1 underdog two months before he’ll square off against Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) on Sept. 17 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium (HBO Pay-Per-View).
He doesn’t consider himself a huge underdog, though, especially since Smith doesn’t lend much credence to the Mexican superstar’s most recent victories over England’s Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) and Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs).
“I’ve got massive respect for him as a fighter and what he’s done for Mexico,” Smith said. “He’s a role model. He’s a hero for Mexico, but that’s as far as it goes from my point of view. A lot of fighters come here in awe of him and stuff like that. I’m not coming here in awe of him. I’m coming here to win. I’m not coming here to make numbers up. I’m coming here to defend me title.”
The 27-year-old Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) has knocked out eight straight opponents and will make the third defense of the WBO 154-pound crown he won by stopping New Jersey’s John Thompson (17-3, 6 KOs) in the seventh round October 10 in Manchester.
“No disrespect, but I’m not a small, over-the-hill Miguel Cotto,” Smith added. “I’m not a blown-up 147, like Amir Khan. I’m a big 154, so he’s not gonna have to worry about cutting the ring off with me, or vice versa. I’m not gonna have to go looking for him. I think we’re gonna meet in the middle and see who’s game plan will work. But I just can’t see how this fight won’t make for a good fight to watch. And it’s one I’m looking forward to. It’s one I can’t wait [for]. And like I say, believe me, for the fans who are [doubting] me … trust me, I’m coming to win.”
Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
