Canelo Alverez (L) and Liam Smith (R) square up during the Canelo Alvarez vs Liam Smith boxing press conference at The Landmark Hotel on July 20, 2016 in London, England. (Photo : Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Liam Smith is aware that most fans and boxing analysts are already counting him out. However, the reigning World Boxing Organization super welterweight champion is confident he can pull off an upset against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
Smith, who will defend his light middleweight title against Alvarez on Sept. 17 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, played down talks about the difference in weight. He said that he is not concerned about Canelo's habit of adding at least 20 pounds on fight night, which was very evident when the Mexican won against Amir Khan.
The Merseyside, United Kingdom native pointed out that he is a natural super welterweight and is used to facing bigger fighter. In fact, he is not just expecting to win against Canelo, Smith declared that he will go for the kill in the biggest fight of his career.
"I can deal with the weight and height will not be a problem," Smith told Sky Sports. "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."
Smith holds a 23-0-1 record with 13 knockout victories in his career. The 28-year-old Briton is coming off a second-round knockout victory over Predrag Radosevic in June. The stoppage victory over Radosevic was his eighth consecutive knockout win in the last three years.
Meanwhile, Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya is aware that Smith will do everything to retain his title. De La Hoya also reiterated that Alvarez will go for knockout. This makes the Hall of Fame believes the upcoming Alvarez-Smith fight will be an exciting showdown.
"Canelo is never, ever in a boring fight," Alvarez told BoxingScene. "He is one to take you apart and knock you and that is what he plans to do with Liam Smith."
Alvarez, a former middleweight world champion, has an impressive 47-1-1 record with 33 knockout victories. The 26-year-old Mexican is coming off a sensational sixth-round knockout win over Khan in May to retain his World Boxing Council middleweight title before relinquishing it. Watch the highlights of his victory over Khan in the video below.
