Stephen Smith Backs Brother Paul To Bust Dodson Up
By Terence Dooley
Stephen Smith has raced to 9-0 (5) since turning professional last June. The featherweight, who twice won the ABA title as an amateur, is pushing for a title shot and hopes to fight for the English and British belts at some point this year. Indeed, Smith, who also won Commonwealth gold in the unpaid ranks, is hoping that promoter Frank Warren can deliver him an English title crack on the undercard of the March 12th showdown between older brother Paul, the current British super-middleweight kingpin, and local rival Tony Dodson.
Both Dodson and Smith have been pretty vocal about their ECHO Arena date. Indeed, Stephen believes that this hugely anticipated fight, which comes hot on the heels of Dodson-Tony Quigley and Quigley-Smith, proves that Liverpool is becoming the home of boxing here in the North West.
“The amount of good boxers coming out of Liverpool at the minute is great for the city, the future looks good and we’ve got some good times ahead,” predicted Stephen, who also believes that brother Paul will show his best form come the 12th.
“Style didn’t gel [in the Smith-Quigley fight] but people don’t realise the amount of pressure on both lads for that fight. There was a lot of build up before it and it was all about the result in that one,” revealed Smith.
“This next one will be all about the performance, the styles will gel and you’ll see a better Paul Smith in that one. Paul is coming good as his mind is fully on the sport and not other things - you’ll see the best of him in the future.”
Tickets are available from the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
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