LIAM SMITH was hurting too much to admit it, but this could be the night he really arrived on the global stage despite losing his world title. Saul Canelo' Alvarez was too skillful, powerful and accurate for the Liverpool fighter as he wrenched the WBO light-middleweight title from his grasp with a ninth-round knockout in front of 51,000 Mexican fans. Click Here To Read More]
I see that he has been moved to no. 10 in the wbo rankings. Is that the norm, on losing the title you get shipped out of the top 10? But never fear, Liam Williams comes in at no. 3. Old Frankie Warren must have pretty deep pockets to get his boys these positions!! Smith isn't even top 10 JM. Doesn't mean he won't get another shot though.
Oh good, yet another effing Liam Smith story on boxingscene. Never has a paper beltholder who never fought anyone with a pulse before getting shelled gotten so many headlines on a web site. Smith is world class only at taking a beating and wouldn't beat anyone in the top 20-25 in the division. But he got his payday and boxingscene got its webhits from Brits, who know he's not even the best junior middleweight in the UK
Smith has some skills and lots of heart but World Champ?
There was a time when holding a title meant something, now it's another way to sell a fight. Smith was exactly what Alvarez needed, a no-threat paper champ , who was ripe for the picking.
I give props to Liam, he fought hard, and he's a tough competitor. I figured the fight would last longer than a few rounds but I figured the KO/TKO was inevitable.
I don't get those who call a fighter a bum, but he proved to me he's tough, can be in exciting fights, and there were a couple of rounds and moments Liam actually did good work. If he had more experience against top level opposition he may have made it a closer fight.
I'd say he falls short of world level but above European level right now. Somewhere in-between where he's not quite good enough to get to the next level. His brothers Paul was probably similar at his best. Just not quite there at world level but probably a bit above European champion level. Stephen too actually.
There's no saying he could never compete at world class level though, maybe not canelo's level but i'm sure he could still compete with others if he rebuilds a bit. The jump in level was far too much but put him in with some top 15-20 guys and let him get used to that level. He's definitely not a bum.
He proved he has heart and can take a beating. But let's be honest he didn't win a single round in that fight. If he can win some rounds and beat a world level fighter then he proves he is on that level. Right now he is just a euro kid who got busted up the first time he stepped up competition.
Whether he is world class right now or not he definitely will get another shot to prove it because he got a ton of exposure and at worst proved he will not stink up the joint. So fans will want to see him again. He'll get another big fight payday.
Another Euro-bum!!
Where are all the beefy fans. ? He is going to upset Canelo yayaya. You are right i said it too another Euro who hasn't proven himself on the big stage.