SMITH HOMES IN ON TITLE TILT
RETURN: Liam Smith LIAM is itching for the chance to get back to the top after blaming last year’s defeat by WBO world super welterweight champion Jaime Munguia on inactivity.
Smith, 30, returns to the ring next week against Sam Eggington in his home city of Liverpool for the first time since his failed title challenge last July.
And with a new three-fight deal signed, he is hoping his outings come thick and fast so he can propel himself back to world level. Smith DREAMING BIG: Anthony Crolla (right) is out to shock the world
ANTHONY CROLLA is dreaming of an historic victory that would be a bigger upset than Manchester United beating Barcelona.
Crolla challenges Vasiliy Lomachenko, widely regarded as the world’s best boxer, for his WBA-WBO world lightweight titles at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 12 – two days after United host Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The United nut, 32, is a massive 20-1 underdog to become a two-time world champion by beating the US-based Ukrainian Lomachenko, 31.
Crolla, who suffered career-threatening injuries in 2014 after interrupting a burglary, says he is being driven by the chance to shock the boxing world.
Beating Lomachenko would rank alongside the biggest upsets in British boxing history, including Lloyd Honeyghan’s 1986 triumph over Donald Curry and Randolph Turpin beating Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951.
The Manchester boxer said: “He has a strong argument to be the best fighter on the planet.
“He’s got the ability and had a fantastic amateur career, as good as it gets. But as a pro he’s had 13 fights and I think we have got to wait a bit longer before we judge.
“It’s an honour to fight him, it really is, but I’m going in there to shock the world. My mindset is not about how good he is – I’m trying to beat him.
“In the same week I fight Lomachenko, United play Barcelona in the Champions League and if you compare the two, mine is the bigger ask for sure.
“I’m gutted I can’t be there – but there’s no way I could. Maybe for the second leg.
“I’m not allowed to bet but it would be some double if I could beat him and United beat Barcelona.
“I’m fighting one of the best fighters on the planet. If you said what I’m about to do after I lost to Jorge Linares a couple years ago, nobody would have believed you. “It’s a really tough fight, but it’s a fight I can’t wait for.” Former United and England striker Wayne Rooney, now based in the US with DC United, has attended Crolla’s fights in the past.
But the man known as Million Dollar insists he will not be blown away by fighting on the big stage.
He said: “I know Lomachenko has been hanging around A-listers and they could be there on the night. I’m not sure about Wayne Rooney, he’s wishing me good luck but we’ll have to see if can he go. But it means more to me that friends, family and fans are coming over to support me.”
Crolla is watching hours of footage of Lomachenko in action – but admits it might be a waste of time. He added: “I’ll watch quite a bit of him the closer the fight gets.
“But I don’t like to overstudy any fighter I’m fighting.
“Sometimes you can overthink things. I can’t worry too much about what he’s going to do because he’s capable of coming out and doing something different that we have not seen
before.” said: “The whole situation is very exciting for me. To be back in Liverpool is unbelievable, it’s like turning pro all over again.
“I know Munguia is young and can punch, but in terms of boxing IQ, I feel I was a better fighter. He had more in the tank on the day and a lot of that came down to momentum.”
With a record that stands at 26-2, Smith still feels there is plenty left in his tank. “You can count on one hand how many half-tough fights I’ve had,” he said. “I just haven’t been active and it’s hard coming back after a long lay-off.
“By the end of September or October, if I’ve had three fights by then it will be one of the busiest periods I’ve had.”
Smith has sparred with Eggington, 25, over the years and he added: “I know exactly what Sam’s going to do. It’s a different fight with little gloves on but that’s for both parties and if he beats me he’s back.”