Liam Smith will be back in the ring before too long after inking fresh promotional terms.
The former WBO super-welterweight world champion has been out since last July when he suffered defeat to Jaime Munguia in a challenge for his old belt in Las Vegas. Smith took on the talented Mexican at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, exclusively live on BT Sport, and came up short via a unanimous decision.
But the 30-year-old will snap his hiatus from action on March 30, exclusively live on Sky Sports.
Smith, who has amicably split with Frank Warren to link up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, will fight at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
“First and foremost, I just want to say a massive thank you to Frank for everything he has done for my career,” said Smith, who is now being guided by the same man in Hearn as his brothers Callum and Stephen, the former of whom is the reigning WBA Super, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine super-middleweight king.
“It was under Frank I won the world title and challenged for the belt and I’ll always be very appreciative of that.
“It’s a little bittersweet to be moving on but I just felt that at this stage of my career a change would serve me well and I’m happy to be joining a great stable in Matchroom.”
Warren in return has wished Smith well for the future.
“This is a new lease of life for me and exactly what I needed. I felt like I was going a little bit stale and under the radar,” Smith added. “Without being big-headed, I still feel that I’m the best super-welterweight in Britain. I had a bad year in 2018 and with the move to Eddie I’m hoping for an active and exciting 2019.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Eddie and I’m happy to be working with him. The Kell Brook fight is a big fight and it’s one that could come into play but I haven’t signed with Matchroom just to fight Brook. I’ve signed with Matchroom to try and become a world champion again and I believe that Eddie’s the man to take me there.”
Hearn, whose Liverpool card in a couple of months’ time will feature a super-welterweight dust-up between Anthony Fowler and Scott Fitzgerald, with further details in due course, is delighted to welcome ‘Beefy’ to the team.
He said: “I feel he has plenty of big fights left in the tank. He has only ever lost at elite level against Canelo and Munguia and has boxed on a huge stage and platform in the US.
“His return on our big Liverpool card will pave the way for him to try and regain a version of the world title later this year.”
Article by: Elliot Foster