By Lee Collier
British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith, 27, makes the first defence of his title this coming March in the same Arena where he won the belt back in October. Last time out, Smith took the belt off Tony Quigley in a close and scrappy fight where opinion was mixed as to who had done enough to win the fight.
Just six months before that fight there was another local Liverpool derby fight for the same belt when Quigley stopped Tony Dodson in the last round to win the vacant title and now Liverpool fight fans are going to see the third derby fight in 12 months at the Echo Arena. Smith is pleased to have the chance for an all Liverpool title fight yet again.
“I keep stressing this point but it’s a fight that I’ve chosen. Dean [Powell] and Frank [Warren] gave me a list and I picked Tony and I picked Liverpool, it’s all on my terms, I’m the champion and this is what I want,” declared ‘Smigga’.
Both Smith and Dodson have boxed Quigley in the last year with Smith winning his fight and Quigley stopping Dodson, Smith believes this gives him an advantage. “I know for a fact I have the tools to beat Tony. I have sparred loads of rounds with Tony and I know I will beat him,” boasted Smith.
“I watched the Quigley fight and it did my head in as I felt I should have been next in line. That was a year since that fight and it’s a year since Dodson fought so all these factors add up in my favour.”
Dodson has not fought since his stoppage defeat to Quigley and Smith feels the nature of the stoppage, and the fact he feels he is a bigger puncher than Quigley, could lead to a stoppage victory.
“The loss he had to Quigley was a bad stoppage, he was dropped four times in the fight and no disrespect to Quigley but he’s not a big puncher - I know that from being in the ring with him. So if Quigley can put him on the floor four times then I know for a fact if I catch him I’ll keep him there,” claimed Smith.
Earlier in the press conference Frank Warren Promotions matchmaker Dean Powell announced that if successful in this defence then Smith could end up with a World title shot against WBO champion Robert Stieglitz. Smith however is concentrating on the March showdown with Dodson.
“To be honest I haven’t asked for that fight,” explained Smith. “If that’s what Dean and Frank want to do for me then fine. Robert Stieglitz is probably the weakest of the 4 world champions. Not that he’s weak by any stretch of the imagination, as I wouldn’t disrespect anyone saying that - but he’s not Lucian Bute, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler or Andre Ward.
“It’s certainly a winnable fight but I would love to win the Lonsdale belt outright and I’m not looking past this fight because I have done that before and it cost me and I won’t do it again.”
With Smith looking to win the Lonsdale belt outright there could be a possibility of a rematch with Tony Quigley.
“The Quigley rematch isn’t a fight I want. I don’t see the point in going back there. It wasn’t a bad decision I won the fight clearly and the only people saying Quigley won are his friends. I don’t feel the need to go backwards on myself. It will just be another fight of the same style, a scrappy fight with lots of holding inside and it wouldn’t make for good business,” claimed Smith.
Whilst others are talking of world title shots, Smith has his sights on a European title fight. “I want to move forward and I’d love Brian Magee to win the European title and I’d love to fight Magee for the European. I think Magee is a good fighter, he’s done his time and paid his dues and we’ll see what he’s got left in his performance in January,” stated Smith.
“I do feel I have the beating of him and I’d love to be European champion and it would be a great achievement in my life and in my career. Then if a world title shot comes it’s a massive bonus but I need to take little baby steps, just one step at a time.”
