Liam Smith 154 vs. Predrag Radosevic 153
Zolani Tete 117 vs. Victor Ruiz 116
Ryan Farrag 118 vs. Karim Guerfi 118
Paul Butler vs. Petchbarngborn Kokietgym
At today’s official weigh-in at the Bierkeller in Liverpool, undefeated WBO World Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Smith and Montenegrin challenger Predrag Radosevic both hit the weight on the scales ahead of tomorrow’s world title showdown at the Echo Arena.
Scouse hero Smith, 22-0-1 12 KO’s, and WBO European Champion Radosevic, 30-1-0 11KO’s, headline tomorrow’s mouth-watering night of action, live and exclusive on BoxNation. Smith, who makes the second defence of his world title, hit the scales bang on 11 stone while his challenger Radosevic came in at 11 stone 13lbs.
Speaking afterwards Smith said: “All the talking is over and now it’s time to get it on in the ring. I’ve put everything into my training and I’m looking forward to retaining my world title in front of my home crowd at the Echo Arena.”
Radosevic said: “My training camp has gone perfectly and now I’m ready to get in the ring and become a world champion. I’ve not come all this way to leave empty-handed. I’m fighting Smith in his own city but I’ll be taking the belt home with once I’ve beaten him.”
EBU European Bantamweight Champion Ryan Farrag tipped the scales at 8 stone 6lbs ahead of his first defence of the title against Karim Guerfi. The French mandatory challenger, 23-3-0 6 KO’s, also hit the scales at 8 stone 6lbs.
South African IBF International Bantamweight Champion Zolani Tete came in at 8 stone 5lbs ahead of his defence against Mexico’s Victor Ruiz. Challenger Ruiz, 21-5-0 15 KO’s, came in slightly lighter at 8 stone 4lbs.
Also weighing in at the Bierkeller was Liverpool’s Tom Stalker who challenges Antonio Joao Bento for the Vacant WBO Lightweight Championship. ‘The Captain’ weighed in at 9 stone 8lbs with Bento coming in at the same weight.
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Liverpool’s WBO Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Smith came face-to-face with Montenegro’s Predrag Radosevic at today’s press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool. Undefeated Smith, 22-0-1 12 KO’s, makes the second defence of his world title against WBO European Champion Radosevic this Saturday at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
Scouse hero Smith knows he will have to be at his very best if he is to avoid any slip-ups against a rough and ready Radosevic.
Smith’s promoter Frank Warren has hinted at a potentially huge fight for Smith in September should he overcome Radosevic. However, the Merseyside maverick says there’s no danger of him overlooking his latest challenger.
“I’m buzzing to get back in the ring on Saturday. I’ve been out of the ring since December and I’ve had a good rest. I’ve been linked with some big names but none of those fights can happen if I don’t win this weekend. I’m fully focused on Predrag Radosevic; he’s a dangerous opponent and has my full attention. I’m from too good a family and too good a gym to overlook anyone,” said Smith.
He added: “I want to put on a good performance back in my home city. I won the title in Manchester and defended it in Manchester but there’s no place like home. I’m going to put on a show for everyone at the Echo Arena and watching at home on BoxNation”.
Radosevic, who is ranked number 11 with the World Boxing Organisation, is on a red-hot three-fight winning streak since losing his unbeaten record at the hands of controversial WBA Super-Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm in July 2013 and insists he isn’t in Liverpool to make up the numbers.
He said: “It’s a great honour to be here and fighting on a Frank Warren promotion. On Saturday night I’ll be taking that belt home with me; I’m not here as a tourist. I believe I have what it takes to beat Liam and become the new world champion.”
Ellesmere Port star Paul Butler finds himself within striking distance of another shot at becoming a two-weight world champion. Standing in his way of making history is Thai terror Petchbarngborn Kokietgym who boxes out of Bangkok. Former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Butler is excited to show off his new skills against Kokietgym.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday night. Obviously I’ve got a new trainer and I’m buzzing to show everyone what I’ve been up to in the gym. I’ve got a good opponent but we’ve been putting the hours in in the gym and you’ll see a new Paul Butler this weekend,” said Butler.
EBU European Bantamweight Champion Ryan Farrag makes the first defence of his belt against Karim Guerfi. The Everton Red Triangle man is confident of getting a knockout win over the tricky man from Manosque in France.
He said: “Karim is a good opponent. He’s the type of opponent I want to be in there fighting but I believe I’ve got the beating of him. He’s going to be in for a rough night; I’m looking forward to punching him in the face and keeping hold of my belt!”
Lastly, Tom Stalker looks to make it third time lucky when he challenges Portugal’s Antonio Joao Bento for the Vacant European Lightweight Championship. ‘The Captain’ is confident there are big fights ahead of him should he claim the European crown on Saturday.
Stalker said: “In the past year I’ve had three draws a win and a loss. Frank Warren has stood by me and got me another great opportunity. It’s about time I repaid their faith in me. I’m going to put in a great performance on Saturday and finally get my hands on that belt.”
The Channel of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, Freeview 255 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com or watch online at livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.
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After winning and retaining his WBO light-middle belt across the M62 in Manchester, unbeaten Scouse champ Liam Smith finally secures a home tie this Saturday when he defends his belt at The Echo Arena, writes Glynn Evans.
‘Whenever I fight in England, I want to fight in Liverpool,’ declares ‘Beefy’, third eldest of the four fighting champions, who swaps leather with Montenegro’s 30-1 Predrag Radosevic.
‘It’s been a special fight city for years but it was quiet of world champions. Now it’s back up where it belongs with two, both from the same (Rotunda) amateur gym. There’s a different buzz when you fight at home.’
It will be the 5ft 9in Joe Gallagher trained champion’s ninth pro start at the hallowed hall in Liverpool’s Docklands and he’s triumphed in each of the previous eight, stopping the last six rivals he’s faced there.
‘The Echo is a boss venue for boxing,’ says the 27 year old, a former ABA light-welter champion in 2008.
‘It’s one of the few halls where there’s no bad seats and we’ve had plenty of special nights there as a family. Regardless of how many it’s set up for, it’s always noisy. You can guarantee a great atmosphere.’
Liam might have been the least decorated amateur of the four fistic siblings – only embracing the sport at the age of 14 – but, thus far, he is the only one to score a professional world title. And after being extended to the cards in 11 of his first 16 paid gigs (one draw), this brutal body puncher has wasted all of his seven most recent victims inside seven rounds.
He explains: ‘Over the last couple of years I’ve developed my ‘man strength’ and matured into a proper 12 round championship fighter. My style’s finally coming together and I’m near the finished article; a good hard all rounder. I’m big at the weight, always come to fight. Not many can out tough me.’
In each of his last three outings, ‘Beefy’ dropped the guillotine in round seven, including his world title win over New Jersey’s John Thompson and maiden defence against unbeaten Manc Jimmy Kilrain Kelly.
‘It’s uncanny. If I could stop ‘em earlier I would,’ says Smith of his ‘Lucky Seven’.
‘I expected the Thompson fight to last about that long, to have to come from behind, but really should’ve stopped Jimmy Kelly anytime from round two onwards.
‘A lot of respected fight people rated Kelly beforehand and I thought: ‘Am I missing something here?’ I couldn’t ever see him troubling me. It was a very workmanlike performance, quite difficult to watch back on tape.’
Presently Smith’s confidence is soaring out of the stratosphere. He steadfastly maintains that he is the best 154lb fighting man on this planet and is prepared to front up against anyone who believes otherwise.
He actively pursues the super-fights that can enhance his legacy and his bank balance.
‘You just saw ‘Bomber’ (Tony Bellew) at Goodison, well now I want ‘Beefy’ at Anfield with all the Reds, my brothers, Derry (Mathews) and ‘Big Pricey’ (David Price) also on the bill. This city will support that scale of event. Obviously you’d need big name opposition for us all,’ says Smith, a lifelong follower of Liverpool FC.
‘(IBF welter boss) Kell Brook is the fight I’m pushing for. We’re mates, there’s a lot of mutual respect but when Eddie Hearn starts talking about Kell cleaning up at 154, I’m thinking: ‘Not while I’m there, you’re not’. They mentioned it, not me. I just responded, Frank put out an opening offer and now they’ve gone quiet.
‘If Kell fights (WBO welter king) Jesse Vargas instead of me, fair play to him. If his team picks a light-welter like Lamont Peterson when he’s talking of cleaning out at 154, it’s embarrassing, mate.
‘Amir Khan is also a friend who I see most days when he’s in the UK and I helped him prepare for his fight with ‘Canelo’. But this is business. I’d not gob off like Kell did to try to force a Khan fight but if they want it, it’s there’s. I’d be very confident. Size wise, Amir’s not very big at light-middle.
‘After I come through on Saturday, it has to be a big name super fight, UK or US. That means either of the Charlo twins in a unification, ‘Canelo’ in Vegas or my mandatory Miguel Cotto – one of my favourite fighters – at Madison Square Garden. But I’ve a job to do on Saturday first.’
And savvy Smith is not about to squander the bounties that beckon by overlooking Saturday’s voluntary challenger.
‘Radosevic is an unknown name rather than an unproven fighter,’ he stresses.
‘He was a good amateur and he’s only lost once – to a multiple world middleweight champion (Felix Sturm) – in 31 fights as a pro. Ok, there’s a few puddings on his record but he’s also beaten good men like Shalva Jomardashvili (just four losses in 38), Virgilijus Stapulionis (19-1) and Guiseppe Lauri (a four time European title challenger).
‘From the clips we’ve seen, he’s big, tough and solid. I’m expecting him to make me work, force me to have a fight, take me eight to ten hard rounds.
‘A stoppage late on would stand me in good stead for fights down the line but it’d be fantastic to blow him away spectacularly in a round or two to get everyone talking about me.’
