Liam Smith plays and scores for Sunday League side hours after Anthony Fowler KO
Liam Smith's devastating knock down of Anthony Fowler on Saturday night wasn't the only time he found the target on the weekend.
The 33-year-old could perhaps have been forgiven for taking it easy for a day or two after winning the WBA International Super-Welterweight title, following a thrilling bout against his fellow Liverpudlian.
Smith had his eye cut by Fowler, 30, in the opening round but recovered to floor his rival in the fifth - and again sent him to the canvas in the eighth - at which point referee Howard Foster and Fowler’s corner team both call a stop to the fight.
Despite enjoying one of the most spectacular nights of his boxing career though, Smith wasn't about to neglect his Sunday League football duties, and was up the next morning to play for Custy's FC in their match against Allerton.
The atmosphere at Bootle’s Berry Street Garage Stadium would have been a far cry from the din inside the M&S Arena in Liverpool the previous evening, but Smith still found inspiration as the No 9 got on the scoresheet.
His commitment went down well with his fans after Neil Jones, Liverpool FC Correspondent for Goal , tweeted a picture of him playing, along with the line "Doesn't miss a game, Liam Smith - fair play!" before later confirming he'd scored as well.
@jonroche28 responded with: "Winning his fight in front of 10,000 people last night, Sunday football today" and @macca21749976 joked "All the lads out there who say they can’t play two games in 2 days."
DAZN boxing commentator Chris Lloyd also weighed in to offer the fighter some humorous advice, saying "Probably ease up on the headers today though eh."
It was all a far cry from the previous evening, and after beating Fowler, Smith lauded the atmosphere created by his home fans: "It was unbelievable in here tonight. That was a night I'll never forget,” he said.
"It was a great fight. I always knew it was going to be very competitive, especially for the first six.
"I had to make it a bit personal because if I lost tonight I was finished, and I want to box for a world title again,” Smith continued.
"If I lost to Anthony Fowler I've got no chance of doing that so I had to do something to switch me on."
