IT WAS the calm before the storm at yesterday’s British Super-Middleweight title weigh-in as Tony Quigley and Paul Smith squared off once more.

Champion Quigley defends his Lonsdale belt against Smith at the Echo Arena this evening and after stepping on the scales the pair stood face-to-face for the final time before the showdown.

Billed as a potential all-city boxing classic to sit alongside Shea Neary and Andy Holligan’s Nark in the Park, as well as Quigley’s stoppage win over Tony Dodson in March – the victory which gave him the British title – yesterday’s weigh-in attracted a large crowd to the Jury’s Inn hotel.

A small reception room at the Albert Dock venue was packed out with the city’s boxing fraternity  as the title rivals went through the formalities of making the 12 stone limit.

Challenger Smith, who has a professional record of 27-1-0, came in bang on the maximum at 168lbs and offered a confident nod to the crowd as he gave the mandatory muscle flex.

Twenty-five-year-old Quigley came in just under the limit at 167 ¼ lbs, again to the delight of his supporters.

The stage was then set for the traditional toe-to-toe confrontation as both men got a close-up and personal look at each other before tonight’s first bell.

As Quigley and Smith were separated verbal volleys were exchanged with the champion offering: “Don’t go eating too much because you will be eating leather tomorrow night.”

The ill-feeling between the duo almost spilled over at Wednesday’s press conference when both boxers had to be restrained.