ANFIELD OF DREAMS
BOXING
CALLUM SMITH is dreaming of an Anfield double in May that would see him defend his WBA supermiddleweight title at the famous old stadium days after Liverpool lift the Premier League crown.
The Scouser is a mad Reds fan and, providing he defends his belt against John Ryder in his home city’s Echo Arena later this month, he has a chance of fulfilling a lifetime ambition of fighting at the iconic football ground.
Smith said: “It has the potential to be an unbelievable month of May.
“It sounds too good to be true. The thought of fighting at Anfield was always too good to be true but then I was part of a couple of the meetings and it is very possible. There’s myself and a lot of other good fighters in Liverpool. I’m a world champion and everything seems to make sense. The timing seems to be right providing I come through my next defence.
“That’s the goal and the pressure is on my promoter, Eddie Hearn, now to deliver that for me. Hopefully Liverpool can do their job and Eddie can do his, and it could be a good month for me.”
Unification
WBO world champion Billy Joe Saunders would be one likely opponent at Anfield if, as expected, he beats Marcelo Coceres to retain his title.
Both belong to Hearn’s Matchroom stable and unless either get a shot at Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez it is a fight both want.
Smith added: “Billy is a potential fight at Anfield. If I could get Billy or a bigger name than him, if there are any, then I’d jump at that. He is a very good fighter and he’s a world champion i n my weight division. I’ve made it clear I want unification fights — I’ve won my title but I want to see if I can get any of the others.
“It’s a fight that does make sense, he’s among the list of big names and it’s down to Eddie to go and deliver one of them. A fight with
Billy should be quite easy to make, so the chances are great.
“We both have fights at the end of the year and if we come through them, and providing I can’t get Canelo or someone like that, then a fight for both of us makes sense.
“We’d be looking at some time in the middle of May to the middle of June, and obviously we have to wait and see how Liverpool get on in terms of the FA Cup or Champions League.”