TRAINER Joe Gallagher predicts a scorching war could rage for the British featherweight title – but champion John Simpson insists he will not feel the heat.
Gallagher takes his new student Stephen Smith into battle with Scotland’s Simpson this evening at The Olympia with the Lonsdale Belt up for grabs.
Smith and Simpson met in a 9st battle for the Commonwealth title in September with Liverpool’s ‘Swifty’ emerging with a split decision win.
Mancunian Gallagher – who did not have Smith under his wing at the time – has labelled last autumn’s fight as “tame” but believes the return will be far spicier.
The result from last time remains disputed by Simpson’s team to this day yet the Greenock man reacted in his next bout by scooping the domestic title from Martin Lindsay in Belfast as Smith (11-0) sat at ringside, nursing a damaged hand.
Many regard Simpson’s unanimous points win before Christmas as arguably his finest hour and Gallagher says with both he and Smith (who both scaled 8st 13lbs at yesterday’s weigh-in) improved from their first scrap, there can be no reason for excuses tonight.
“Stephen will either win by knockout or points,” declared Gallagher. “There have been lots of excuses from the last fight but tonight I want no excuses from anyone. We’re fighting the best John Simpson, they’re fighting the best Stephen Smith and may the best man win.
“The way we’ve gone about training, I’m sure it will be Stephen Smith who will be a double champion at the end of the night.
“I’ve watched the last fight three times and I’ve seen enough.
“But I came into this with a blank canvas I’ve just been studying John Simpson against Derry Mathews, against Stephen Foster and against Dazo Williams.
“But we’ll have two different fighters from last time.
“The last fight was timid on both of their behalves and it didn’t fight like it should’ve done.
“But this time Simpson is coming into the ring in the form of his career after a win over Lindsay and Stephen will be a totally different fighter aswell.
“They are both putting it on the line tonight and it could be a contender for fight of the year.”
For Simpson, the prospect of an IBF world title shot lurks in the backdrop of this evening’s fight.
Beat Smith and he gets a chance to go global.
