Quigley vs Smith

[felly]

Should be a good atmosphere inside the Echo arena for this all-Scouse fight. Expecting a real scrap...looking forward to it.
Rumor is the Brook - Jennings fight has been called off the card, as Brook is sick. Hope not tho, as that could of been a good fight aswell.

[Joey Jones]

Should be a good atmosphere inside the Echo arena for this all-Scouse fight. Expecting a real scrap...looking forward to it.
Rumor is the Brook - Jennings fight has been called off the card, as Brook is sick. Hope not tho, as that could of been a good fight aswell.

Looks like you were right

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_5655017,00.html

Kell Brook's eagerly-awaited showdown with Michael Jennings has been postponed.

Brook, recently named the British Boxing Writers' Young Fighter of the Year pulled out of the British welterweight title clash after picking up a virus.

The cold, which prevented the champion finishing his training camp, means the clash - which many were expecting to be a fight of the year contender - will be moved to a later date.

The bill at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, will still go ahead with the all-Scouse battle for the British super-middleweight title between Tony Quigley and Paul Smith top of the bill.

Sky Sports will still be broadcasting live from the night, with James DeGale taking on unbeaten Ally Morrison and Frankie Gavin meeting Steve Saville.

[Shanks]

Yep, fancy Smith for this one.

Tony Bellew due on at 9pm.

[felly]

Weigh-in:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl3PWc-YP-s&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Tony Quigley and Paul Smith weigh in ahead of British Su...[/ame]

[felly]

Paul Smith is scared of me – Tony Quigley

BRITISH super-middleweight champion Tony Quigley believes he’s got challenger Paul Smith running scared ahead of tomorrow’s derby day title fight at the ECHO Arena.

Both fighters had to be physically restrained and separated yesterday when tensions boiled over at the official final press conference.

The pair came head-to-head for a photograph in the shadows of the arena and Smith opened up a volley of trash talk before Quigley responded by stepping forward.

It was a million miles away from the amicable scenes inside Anfield’s trophy room six weeks ago. The love is definitely gone.

Both rival camps were forced to intervene yesterday to stop the fight starting 48 hours early, but smiling Quigley said afterwards: “He doesn’t scare me. His bottle has gone; again.

“He kept asking me if I was going to run. He’s terrified of me not standing and trading with him because he knows that’s the only hope he has of winning.

“He’s just scared of me boxing his head off because he knows that if I start boxing in there he won’t be able to live with me.

“But all that bravado and carrying on just told me one thing, that he’s scared.

“In the first press conference he bottled up and didn’t really say anything but he’s all brave now, with his family and boys with him.

“He wants me to stand there while he throws his punches but I am a clever fighter and I will play to my strengths, not his.”

He added: “But I’m not afraid of Paul Smith and maybe I will stand and trade with him, beat him at his own game.”

Smith, speaking during the press conference, said: “I have had no problems motivating myself for this fight. I am fighting in my home city against a local rival and that is motivation in itself.

“I have always said that if you give me 12 weeks notice for a fight I will be fine and this is my chance to prove it.

“It 100% doesn’t matter what Quigley brings to the ring as I know I will beat him. I will win this fight.”

Quigley, 25, has not fought since beating Tony Dodson at the ECHO Arena in March after suffering from a shoulder injury.

But he has been training for this fight, remarkably only his 15th, for two and half months.

He added: “It has been hell and those past few weeks have seemed like a lifetime.

“I have been to north Wales for a bit of hill running – my dad has a caravan there. I also went to France and sparred with some top boxers.

“I have had to change my training to cope with 12- round fights but I feel good and confident.”

Smith also insists that his training camp has gone to plan and will be 100% when the bell goes tomorrow.

Despite having fought 28 times as a pro, twice as many as the champion, Smith has never headlined a card of this size but believes that familiarity and home comforts have been the key to his training camp.

Smith, 27, countered: “I’ve not been bothering with training camps and caravans and all that palaver. I have been staying in my own place every day.

“I’ve not changed anything for this fight. He’s been doing things differently to fight me, but I’ve not changed my routine.”

Promoter Frank Warren failed to hide his excitement yesterday and is clearly delighted that this derby day title match-up is, what he hopes, the first of many big shows he stages at the city’s new arena.

He buzzed: “It’s a brilliant main event no getting away from it. It’s got all the ingredients of a special fight.

“You also have to remember that these guys are under a lot of pressure here. This is a massive show in their home town and the attention they are under is incredible.

“And regardless of who is the bigger puncher or the better boxer when it comes down to it I believe the winner will be the fighter who is mentally stronger.”

Early reports suggest a crowd in excess of 5,000 could file through the arena doors tomorrow, although a 6,000 capacity sell-out isn’t out of the question.

Asked for their final fight predictions Quigley finished: “I really don’t care how I win to be honest. As long as I win. As long as I take the belt home with me I will be happy.”

Challenger Smith adding: “I believe I’ll win by knockout. I’ll stop him.”

l Tickets for tonights show are still available from the box office priced from £30 to £200.

[felly]

Tony Dodson backs Tony Quigley to beat Paul Smith

TONY DODSON is backing British super-middleweight champion Tony Quigley to retain his Lonsdale Belt tonight – then hopes he defends against him after Christmas.

Dodson was just 90 seconds away from recapturing the domestic 12 stone crown back in March at the same ECHO Arena venue before a tremendous late surge from Quigley saw him force a memorable final round stoppage victory.

That result christened Quigley as ‘The Cinderella Man’ of British boxing, as he only actually stepped in at late notice to take the fight.

And Dodson, who admits to being good friends with the new champion now, is convinced that the very same relentless attitude which crowned Quigley earlier in the year will see him home against big-punching Smith tonight.

Dodson, who hopes to fight the winner, says: “I respect both fighters so much and have to admit that I am so jealous that I’m not in there fighting one of them. Hopefully I will get the chance

“But I have to admit that I believe that the winner will be Tony Quigley.

“Don’t get me wrong, Paul can punch. I’ve sparred him and I know how talented he is, but Quigley is relentless. He’s got a terrific chin but also such a big heart.

“I hit him with some very big shots in our fight and I’m a big super-middleweight too, but he just kept on coming.

“Paul will be dangerous early on with his big shots but the later the fight goes the more Quigley will be able to climb on top and use his boxing ability. He may even force a late stoppage of his own.”

Dodson’s fight with Quigley is favourite to be named British boxing’s Fight of the Year for 2009, and the third Scouse super-middleweight contender is convinced that tonight’s clash will struggle to match up to that titanic battle.

But he does admit that styles can make fights and tonight’s championship showdown has the ingredients of another derby classic.

“My fight with Quigley was a bit of a rollercoaster,” Dodson adds. “He started so well, and then I came into the fight after getting cut up at the start. Then I totally took over the middle rounds before Quigley came back in style at the end.

“I don’t think tonight’s fight will quite live up to that, but I do think that a fight which is basically a puncher against a boxer should be fascinating for the fans.

“I know I can’t wait for it. I’ve got butterflies, and I’m not even boxing!”

Meanwhile, Quigley and Smith came head to head for the last time outside of the ring at the scales yesterday and it was a totally different story from the press conference 24 hours earlier.

A couple of hundred fans squeezed into the makeshift weighing room at the Jury’s Inn Hotel and were treated to a stare- down of monstrous proportions.

Smith was happy and smiling, joking with friends and surrounded by the rest of the boxers in action on the bill – other fighters from his promotional stable – while Quigley stepped out alone, earphones plugged in, with a stern look on his face.

Smith weighed in bang on the 12 stone limit, then Quigley tipped the scales 3/4lb under.

Then they came nose to nose for the mandatory stare-down and immediately touched heads; Quigley walking forward and Smith, grinning, retreating backwards. But it was the challenger who kept his thoughts to himself yesterday, while Quigley fired a parting comment that his own support lapped up.

“Don’t eat too much tonight,” he called out, “I’ll be feeding you leather tomorrow.”

Smith hardly registered the parting shot while Quigley spun away, waved to his supporters then made his exit.

First bell tonight is at 6.45pm although city favourite Joe Selkirk will not be opening the card as first planned, instead the massive ticket seller will be on after the main event.

Stephen Smith is the first Scouser in the ring at 7.35pm with Tony Bellew due on at 9pm.

All starting times are, however, subject to change.

The Sky Sports 1 coverage begins live from 10pm.

To watch the stare-down visit www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

[joyno]

smith looks tired but can still throw the big punch, if it goes the distance i will go for quigley, good fight though

[joyno]

having said that they both look knackered, cant call this one.

[Zapater]

Well in Smithy, I hate Quigley. The better boxer (on the day and overall) won. Those last rounds from Smith were quality. He realised that he had to get in there and did really well considering how Quigley was holding at every opportunity.

[Shaggy]

Thought it was a crap fight.

[Jayesh87]

Well in Smithy, I hate Quigley. The better boxer (on the day and overall) won. Those last rounds from Smith were quality. He realised that he had to get in there and did really well considering how Quigley was holding at every opportunity.

I wanted Quigley to win because his entrance music was YNWA

[Chris]

****e fight, Quigley is just an average domestic fighter. And Smith seems to get worse everytime I see him.

Both will go nowhere, though Smith might get gifted a WBO shot at some point, he is a sports network fighter afterall.