Liam Smith has finally been awarded the opportunity to fight for the WBO super-welterweight title again. The Briton surrendered that title in September 2016 to Mexican superstar, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
That title is now in the hands of Sadam Ali who obtained the belt from Puerto Rico’s four-weight world champion, Miguel Cotto.
There will be fireworks! π₯@realworldkidali will defend his WBO Junior Middleweight world title against former champ and #1 contender @LiamBeefySmith π
π₯ Ali vs Smith
π May 12th
πΊ BT Sport pic.twitter.com/xD9qhxSr7f— Boxing on BT Sport π₯ (@BTSportBoxing) March 19, 2018
“I think he’ll raise a notch again, going in on a high after the Cotto win,” Smith told iFL.TV
Smith shared he expects a tough challenge from Ali, who comes into the fight on a high after securing the most high profile victory of his career against Cotto in his last performance.
“He’s a good fighter. This sounds mad, but it’s probably a tougher fight than Cotto, at the stage of the career.”
Smith credited Ali for dispatching Cotto but believes Cotto took the fight unprepared because he felt Ali would be a safe bet.
“I think Cotto was on his way out, which is why he announced his farewell fight.”
“I think he picked Sadam Ali, hoping it would be a safe bet – a blown up Welterweight.”
It's official: @realworldkidali to defend junior middleweight title against No. 1 contender @LiamBeefySmith May 12 on @HBO World Championship Boxing.https://t.co/2L7ZSHrL9Jpic.twitter.com/XTjouMf1jp
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) March 19, 2018
“Sadam Ali’s had one fight at Super-Welterweight and he won. Ali boxed very well, he’s an Olympian,” explained Smith.
Additionally, Smith says he can leave no stone unturned in his preparations and will need to be at his very best to overcome the challenge Ali poses.
“He’s only lost to Jessie Vargas, who’s a world-class welterweight;”
“It’s one I know I’ll have to be at my very best to win, but it’s one that I’m very confident of going and doing.”
Smith says he will look to right the wrong in losing his world title, just as he did in his two-part series against Liam Williams.
“I wanted to right the wrong with the Williams fight.”
π¨ BREAKING π¨
Ali v Smith WBO World Super Welterweight Championship clash on May 12th in New York CONFIRMED β @realworldkidali@LiamBeefySmith@GoldenBoyBoxing@btsport @boxnationtv pic.twitter.com/Uv58piU3bO
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) March 19, 2018
“A lot of people wrote me off for that. I forced that rematch, it was me who forced the rematch with Williams.”
“I think I’ve corrected that. Now I’m due it [the World Title shot] and rightly so,” added Smith.
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