Liam Smith knows exactly what he wants in his next fight and has called on Ben Shalom and BOXXER to keep the promise they made to him in the summer.
Smith beat Hassan Mwakinyo to remain on course for another world title challenge earlier this month - but the stoppage at the M&S Bank Arena came in bizarre fashion.
The fight was fought on pretty even terms in the first three rounds, with both doing good work. But under pressure in the fourth round, Mwakinyo sank to a knee in his own corner. The move prompted a count from referee Victor Loughlin.
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Then, as Smith closed in, Mwakinyo went down again and the Liverpudlian opened up with punches, belting him into the ropes. The referee took the knee as a sign of surrender from the visitor, waving the bout off at 1.46 of the fourth.
But Mwakinyo and his team were left furious by the call and quickly remonstrated with Loughlin. Smith and Shalom were also left less than impressed by what had gone on.
Now ranked highly by the WBC, WBO and WBA sanctioning bodies, Smith remains in position to earn a shot at a major belt and try to become a world champion once again.
Jermell Charlo, who is currently undisputed champion of the super-welterweight division, is one name that has been mentioned, while a fight with Chris Eubank Jr is one that 'Beefy' would also be up for. Eubank Jr takes on Conor Benn next month.
“We spoke when I signed with Sky and BOXXER and the names and the things mentioned was why I picked BOXXER,” he told the ECHO when asked what is next for him following his win over Mwakinyo.
“The first fight was always going to be along the lines of Hassan, to announce that I’m back on Sky and I’m back in Liverpool. But the second fight now they have got to deliver me someone big because that is in the contract.”
And when asked if he had anyone in mind for his next bout, Smith replied: “Anyone as long as it makes my stomach pipe up.
"As long as it makes me get my teeth into training camps. It is hard, I am 34 and I have been doing it a long time so I need something that gets my teeth into it to keep me hungry.
“Of course I want to fight Chris Eubank. They’re the types of fights I want to be in next. But there are other big ones out there.
“The Eubank fight would be huge but to call myself the first two-time champ from Liverpool would be great. My brother Callum might beat me to it, though!”
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