TENSIONS between Tony Quigley and Paul Smith threatened to boil over at yesterday’s press conference ahead of their Echo Arena showdown.
The Liverpool pair clash with the British Super-Middleweight title up for grabs on Friday night but at yesterday’s media gathering, the fight almost started early.
Champion Quigley had to be held back by his party as verbal sparring with Smith created a strained atmosphere when the boxers posed for photographs.
At the Anfield press day last month, Quigley and Smith played down any notion of bad blood but the latest meeting at Jury’s Inn suggested tomorrow night’s headlining bout will be explosive.
Promoter Frank Warren agreed and though siding with his fighter Smith, he admitted picking a winner has divided opinion.
Warren said: “It is a fantastic fight and on paper you have two of the best fighters to come out of Liverpool in recent years. They are real quality fighters and I think the public will be in for a real treat. It is one of those fights which makes for an exciting fight because there are good cases for both of them to win it. But I have said from day one I am in Paul Smith’s corner because this is his moment and this is his time.
“This fight excites everyone in boxing and it is a finely balanced fight. It is not just going to be about who’s the bigger puncher or who is the better boxer, it will be about who is mentally equipped to deal with it. There is a lot of pressure on them mentally in this fight and it’s the one who can deal with that who can win the fight.”
Challenger Smith (27-1-0) , refused to mince his words when asked for a fight prediction.
He said: “I will win no matter what, probably by stoppage.
It does not matter what Quigley brings I will be 100 per cent.
“I don’t feel I have anything to prove and my training has been exactly the same. I haven’t been to France, I haven’t been to Wales. Tony didn’t go there for any of his other fights but he has for this one. Regardless of what he brings on the night, if I am 100 per cent, which I am, then I will beat him.”
Quigley (13-1-0) said: “I don’t care how I win, as long as I win.
“Whatever happens outside of the ring I still have respect for him in the ring as a fighter. He has his pluses so I need to make sure I have the right game plan to counteract them. I think it is going to be a good fight.
“I’m defending my title on Friday night and I’ve got to box whoever it is. Whether it was Paul or someone else, my preparation would be the same and I’m going there to retain my belt, that is all the fight is in my eyes.”
As well as a potentially classic main event, the Arena undercard is packed with a mix of local talent and British prospects.
Olympians James DeGale and Frankie Gavin look to extend their unbeaten professional records and hometown Light-Heavyweight star Tony Bellew takes a step up in class.
Stephen and Liam Smith, brothers of Paul, are also on the bill as well as Liverpool’s Joe Selkirk.
For ticket information visit www.echoarena.com or call 0844 847 2500.
Full Bill Tony Quigley v Paul Smith, Michael Jennings v Laszlo Komjathi, James DeGale v Ally Morrison, Frankie Gavin v Steve Saville, Tony Bellew v Jindrich Velecky, Jamie Cox v Manoo Salari, Stephen Smith v Gavin Reid, Joe Selkirk v Alex Spitko, Liam Smith v Darren Gethin, Tobias Webb v TBA. First bell 6:45pm
