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Liam Smith Part of a Boxing Dynasty Family

liam-smithBy Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

As Liam Smith 23-1, 13 KO’s, flies back to his hometown to lick his wounds and report back to mum he is going to be welcomed back in amongst one of the biggest and most successful sporting families that the UK has produced. Liam has 3 highly successful boxing brothers, making this a unique dynasty. All four are or were British champions thus making them the first family to boast such a statistic in domestic sport in the UK.

The three other brothers are Paul Smith 38-6, 22 KO’s, (middleweight), Stephen Smith 24-2, 14 KO’s, (featherweight) and Callum Smith 21-0, 16 KO’s (middleweight). Liam Smith (light middleweight) was the only one to successfully challenge for a world title, that he lost it to Saul Canelo Alvarez 48-1-1, 34 KO’s, was neither a disgrace nor a travesty as Smith’s (That is Liam…) stock has risen.

His elder brother, Paul, is known to US audiences because of his unsuccessful attempts to beat Arthur Abraham 45-5, 30 KO’s twice and then Andre Ward 30-0, 15 KO’s. Paul won the first fight with Abraham but it was in Germany and went to points… He lost the two others with him losing his attempt for world glory on the scales against Ward. He had also fought in the US when he was part of the US show, “The Contender”. He won a 5 round split decision against David Banks 18-4-1, 13 KO’s. After winning middleweight gold in Manchester at the Commonwealth games he turned pro under Frank Warren. One of his weaknesses has been his susceptibility to cuts – it cut (sic) short his Contender. Paul claims that the last time he suffered a knockout was when his 3-year-old son belted him when he was asleep and chipped his tooth! As Paul Smith, JR. he is a very sought after DJ!

Following the Ward defeat Paul went back to the drawing board and has come out fighting three times against lesser known guys who have given him the rounds and kept his engine ticking. None of them have caused him any serious problems and now is the time that you should see him coming increasingly into the mix against bigger and better names. He wants a world title belt because as the oldest brother he needs to keep the young whipper snappers in check.

Stephen also unsuccessfully challenged for a world title in 2015 he fought in the US against Jose Pedraza 22-0, 12 KO’s, for the IBF super featherweight title. He has since won the WBC silver title and we do expect him to challenge again for world honors again in 2017. He is due out again in Merseyside on the 15th October so we shall see if there is any significant progress. He sits just now as number 5 by the WBC and 11 by the IBF.

The one though, who has the greatest expectations sitting upon his shoulder sis Callum. All 3 of his brothers tell us that HE is the real deal. HE shall be the one who goes on to conquer his weight division. He is fighting at the same weight division as his brother Paul, so there has been some careful progression routes to avoid the potential of a brotherly clash – not that Mrs. Smith would ever allow such a thing – and now it is his time to come through and shine. Names are getting thrown about – Jack, DeGale, Groves and the like. Callum is a devastating fighter and won the English, British and European titles all by way of first round knockouts. He has fought in the US once when he knocked out the undefeated Abraham Hernandez 7-1, 4 KO’s, on the undercard of the Porter/Brook world title fight. He holds the WBC silver title and is ranked number 1 by the WBC and number 5 by the IBF.

It was, however Liam who took on the biggest fight of them all at the weekend and despite that loss is still seen as a top 10 fighter. His pedigree is unquestioned as he has taken British and Commonwealth honors along the way and his two defenses of his WBO title, prior to last weekend were tough ones. Of course we are looking for him to get back in the saddle quickly and there are massive names out there for him should he start to recover and take a few tune up fights before hand – like big brother Paul is doing.

There is however a bigger battle in which all 4 brothers are united and that is the cause of raising people’s awareness of autism. Their sister, Holly, has the condition and all 4 have been involved in raising awareness whether it is through wearing AUTISM on their shorts or popping along to open facilities for their sister and young people with autism. I always think when I write about any of the 4 of them that, as an educator I should mention it – just because it’s right.

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