By Shaun Brown

Defeated world super middleweight title challengers Martin Murray and Paul Smith could face one another on April 2 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

The two 33-year-olds both fell at the final hurdle against the WBO world title holder Arthur Abraham between September last year and November this year.

Smith, who dropped two unanimous decision losses to the German based Armenian, has been out of action since June when the Liverpudlian and Sky Sports pundit was stopped by Andre Ward in nine rounds. Murray was edged out by Abraham in a split decision loss last month which was the St Helens’ man fourth unsuccessful attempt to win a world title between 160lbs and 168lbs.

“I like Murray against Smith I think it’s an interesting fight. I spoke to him [Murray] about it. It’s a fight he fancies,” said their promoter Eddie Hearn to Boxing Scene.

“Martin is still bitterly disappointed about the [Abraham] fight. Every time he’s lost, other than the Golovkin fight, a large percentage of people felt like he won the fight so to have three fights like that and not get one… it’s really kicked him in the nuts.

“I said to him you’ve moved up to super middleweight you’ve had a great fight with Arthur Abraham, you’re young, you’re still fresh, I think you’ve got a lot to give. He wants to move straight back into a big fight. He doesn’t want any warm-up fights or anything like that. And I want to make a fight that’s relevant and interesting rather than just bring a foreign opponent over which no-one’s really heard of.”

Hearn told Boxing Scene that Smith is due to return in an eight round warm-up fight on Matchroom Boxing’s January 30 show at London’s Copper Box Arena headlined by the return of the Sauerland promoted George Groves.

“Then he [Smith] wants to be slung into as big a fight as possible as well.”

Hearn informed 'Scene that the April 2 date at Liverpool’s Echo Arena will feature the return of super middleweight rising star Callum Smith and the rematch between British lightweight champion Scotty Cardle and Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd.

Their first contest, a British fight of the year contender, saw Cardle retain his title after Dodd was controversially stopped in the twelfth and final round of a see-saw battle, thus earning his right to a return bout with Cardle.

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com