Liam Smith sees fight with Canelo Alvarez as chance to ‘go up the ladder’

Canelo Alvarez, left, and Liam Smith pose after Thursday’s final news conference/Photo courtesy of Tom Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

 

Liam Smith is a junior middleweight world champion, which means he has – to a degree – reached the promised land in boxing. The thing is he hasn’t beaten any real outstanding fighters, so he is not yet a star. He would be if he were to successfully defend his title Saturday against Canelo Alvarez of Mexico at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (on HBO pay-per-view).

“Canelo is an elite fighter, and this is my chance to go up the ladder,” Smith said at Thursday’s final news conference.

Alvarez, who has been highly criticized for not fighting middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, swears he’s taking Smith seriously.

“We know how dangerous and difficult Liam Smith will be,” Alvarez said. “We have not taken him lightly and we know he will come to fight on Saturday.”

Smith, of England, is 23-0-1 with 13 knockouts. Alvarez is 47-1-1 with 33 knockouts.

 

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