A biography for Liam Smithhasn’t been written yet.
“I'm a humble guy, I'm pretty down to earth.”
“We used tea towels for gloves until we got proper ones and were always breaking our mum's ornaments. She'd come home and find us all sat in our boxer shorts, out of breath and our skin red raw. She hated it.”
“I'll go for the knockout, and if we have to go 12 rounds, then I'll trust the judges to do their best work, and I will get the victory if I deserve it.”
“I've been laughing with my brothers about it. Paul and Stephen both won the British title before me, but I'm going to be the first world champion in the family.”
“When I was fighting at a weekend, I would be in when my friends were out. I never had time to go out and go off the rails.”
“People said I didn't deserve to be World Champion, but I think I've proved it.”
“I made my debut on October 10, 2008, so it'll be seven years to the day that I could become world champion. That's a massive night to be crowned.”
“I'm confident a good Liam Smith beats a good John Thompson.”
“As soon as I get in a rhythm, I'm very hard to stop.”
“I'm world champion, so if I'm not ready for another fighter at 154, I don't deserve to be world champion. That's the way I look at it and what I firmly believe.”
“I wanted to fight guys like Shane Moseley, Miguel Cotto, and Alvarez.”
“I will look for the knockout because that's the way I fight.”
“I don't want to say 'grateful.' I don't want to sound like I'm just coming for the opportunity and to say I boxed in front of this many people at AT&T Stadium. I'm coming there to win and bring the title back home.”
“I'm not stupid. I know on paper I'm the B-side of this fight. Canelo's the big name.”
“People say I'm not world level, but I haven't fought at that class yet, so you can't say that until I have.”
“Without being disrespectful to Jimmy Kelly, I'd rather fight Shane Mosley than Jimmy Kelly.”
“I don't need any more motivation. I'm fighting Canelo Alvarez. If that can't get me motivated, then I'm in the wrong sport.”
“If Canelo comes too hard at me early, he's going to be in for a long night.”
“I'm not going to say I'm not ready for a fighter like Canelo Alvarez.”
“Canelo's the big name, but I am the champion going in... I took this fight. I'm not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I've got a title to lose.”