Liverpool star and Liverpool FC fan Liam Smith asked his promoters to see if they could get his next fight at Goodison Park, home of the Reds’ bitter rivals Everton.
Smith wanted to box in front of his city’s fans so much that even after learning his dream of boxing at Anfield could not happen this summer as Liverpool’s stadium undergoes improvements, Smith turned his attention to Goodison, which is where Tony Bellew won the cruiserweight title from Ilunga Makubu.
However, Smith discovered that Goodison will be undergoing work at the time, too, so it is likely that the fighter will be heading back to the Manchester Arena.
The question is, who will be in the opposite corner. Chris Eubank, whom Smith stopped in four rounds earlier in the year, has reportedly exercised a rematch clause to go back in with Smith, but promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that Eubank is in the frame for Conor Benn’s controversial return.
“At the moment, I think the rematch is what I have to do,” Smith told IFL TV. “With that being said, I’m in a very good position. They’ve ordered me to fight Janibek [Alimkhanuly], they’ve spoken about me fighting Billy Joe [Saunders], [Kell] Brook… I think [Gennady] Golovkin hasn’t come to fruition but I’m contracted to fight Eubank and that’s what I’ll do. I’m in a very good position now… I’ll beat Chris again and I’ll still be in a good position after that.”
Smith is rated No. 1 by the WBC at 154, a title held by Jermell Charlo, and No. 1 by the WBO at 160, held by Janibek. The Eubank rematch would be at 160.
“At this stage of my career, I’ll take what I feel is right for me,” said Smith.