The World Boxing Organisation today sanctioned the bout between Liverpool’s Liam Smith and Clydach Vale’s Liam Williams for the WBO Interim Super-Welterweight World Title.
Smith and Williams’ mouth-watering showdown will take place at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 8th April, broadcast live on BT Sport and BoxNation.
“I’m delighted that Frank has delivered this opportunity” said Smith. “I’d like to thank my management team and the WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Varcarcel for keeping faith in me. I said I would be a World Champion again in 2017 and this is my opportunity.
“The winner of this is a World Champion in waiting. I don’t think Canelo has any intention of defending the 154lbs World Title. This is a win-win situation for me. If I beat Liam Williams I’ll be in an unbelievable position again.
“If Canelo decides to defend his belt I think I could do a million times better against him in a rematch. It was well publicised that I had the worst training camp of my career heading into that fight.
“He’s a World class fighter and I want to test myself against elite fighters. If not, there are huge fights against the likes of Miguel Cotto out there for me. First and foremost I have to beat Liam Williams on April 8th.”
“This is a massive opportunity for me,” said Williams. “It is a huge fight and a brilliant chance for me to propel my name to the top of the sport. This is going to be a proper fight and I’m delighted that Frank keeps on delivering these opportunities for me.”
“There are some huge fights out there for me if I deliver on April 8th. I was already massively motivated for the Smith fight but this has given me another big boost. I’ve been working towards an opportunity like this all of my career and I’ll be bringing that belt back to Wales with me.
Promoter Frank Warren said: “I am delighted to have delivered this opportunity for these two outstanding fighters. This fight has all the ingredients to be a fight the year contender and now, with the added prize of the interim belt, there is more than just pride on the line for both.
“It is well documented that Canelo has plans to step up in weight and that could well see the winner of this becoming a recognised World Champion. It’s a great all-domestic clash that I don’t think will go the distance – they are going to come out swinging and it will be exciting while it lasts.”
Smith vs. Williams is part of an unmissable evening of action on April 8th; local hero Terry Flanagan makes the fifth defence of his WBO World Lightweight crown against dangerous Russian Petr Petrov; double Olympic Gold Medallist and women’s boxing icon Nicola Adams OBE fights for the first time as a professional and former Team GB Heavyweight standout Daniel Dubois makes his highly-anticipated professional debut.
Liam Williams looking sharp for Liam Smith fight
Lauded Welsh trainer Gary Lockett says undefeated British Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Williams is a better boxer and harder puncher than Liverpool’s Liam Smith. The fierce Anglo-Welsh rivals clash in a mouth-watering matchup at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 8th April, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.
Lockett, himself a former World Middleweight title challenger, believes the momentum is with his man. Williams enjoyed successful 2016, defending his Lonsdale belt for the first time at the Cardiff Ice Arena in July and winning the WBO European strap in front of noisy home fans at the Motorpoint Arena in November.
‘The Machine’, touted by many as Welsh boxing’s next megastar, possesses brutal punching power in both hands, but Lockett believes it is his technical ability and boxing brain that will win him next month’s showdown.
“I’m in the gym with Liam Williams every day and, trust me, his biggest attribute is his technical ability, not his strength and power,” said Lockett. “This is what will surprise people in this fight. The kid won six British (junior) titles in the amateurs. He knows how to box.
“Once Liam (Williams) started to find his power a few years back, as he matured physically, he became overly reliant on it. The (Gary) Corcoran British title defence brought a lot of pre-fight hype but we always sensed it was unlikely to be competitive and that reflected in the sloppy way in which Liam boxed. He’ll need to use his brain a lot more if he’s to topple Liam Smith.
“I honestly believe that Liam Williams’ all round ability is higher than Liam Smith’s. That’s what my confidence is based on. Smith has an edge in body punching, shot selection and experience but Williams is a better boxer, has superior footwork and is the harder puncher. That’s what will prove decisive, I believe.”
Smith vs. Williams is part of an un-missable evening of action on April 8th; local hero Terry Flanagan makes the fifth defence of his WBO World Lightweight crown against dangerous Russian Petr Petrov; double Olympic Gold Medallist and women’s boxing icon Nicola Adams OBE fights for the first time as a professional and former Team GB Heavyweight standout Daniel Dubois makes his highly-anticipated professional debut.
Tickets for April 8 priced £50, £70, £100, £150, £200, £300 and VIP £500 are available from eventim at www.eventim.co.uk and 0844 249 1000 and the Manchester Arena at www.manchester-arena.com and 0844 847 8000.