Liam Smith believes that a fight between him and Kell Brook could be a perfect chief support for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev.
Smith, the former WBO champion, and Brook are both eying world title shots in the 154lb division, but with no obvious opportunities available, an all-British clash between the pair of them could be a lucrative option.
He was at ringside at the FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield, on Saturday to watch Brook knock out Mark DeLuca and was more than keen to talk terms for a fight with Brook.
“It’s a massive fight in Britain, it sells a lot of places out,” Smith said. “I don’t mean football stadiums. I’m telling you it sells this place, I’m telling you it sells Liverpool out, it probably sells Manchester too with a decent card under it. Could it go chief support to Joshua? Maybe.
“If you talk Brook v Smith and it kills off the Brook v Khan situation. People are bored of it now. I don’t think anyone will say Brook v Smith is a bad fight. It’s a fight I’ve wanted for a while. Kell Brook is on a level playing field with me now. He’s not getting a world title shot, he’s not a world champion now, the same as me.”
Smith was impressed with much of what he saw from Brook against DeLuca, but he said the time out of the ring had left an affect.
“He’s not the fighter he was, especially with the timing,” Smith said. “He used to be very good with southpaws and he missed a lot of shots he would usually land but you can say he has been out of the ring a long time.
“You’ll see a different Kell Brook when it’s not so much his own way. He marched forward in that fight but he’s not marching forward with me. He won’t have me sitting on the ropes for the first five rounds. I’m not saying he can’t box but it’s different when you’re getting hit back and pushed back and you’re in with a fighter who fully believes he will win.”
Brook also has to prove he can match the strength of Smith at 154lb.
“I don’t think he has the physical power to keep me off,” Smith said. “With little gloves, he has the punch power still and he always has.
“It’s no secret he can punch and he’s shown that in his whole career. Strength wise and physical wise, I think I could bully him and throw him round the ring.
“Once DeLuca is hurt he is only surviving. I’m not trying to slate him, you might see a better Kell Brook against me but you’ll get more answers out of Kell Brook with me in front of him. “
