In the Ring with, Paul Smith, Liverpool’s British Super-Middleweight Champion

Paul Smith shown true Liverpool grit in his last fight against derby rival Tony Dodson. In a grueling contest and Two cuts, two pints of blood lost ,and twelve rounds later, Smith had hung on to his beloved British super-middleweight title.

The Real Gone Kid was hoping to challenge Belfast’s Brian Magee for the European belt this summer, a fight planned for Liverpool, but because of the severity of the cuts in the Dodson fight, it doesn’t look like it is going to happen now this summer.

The 27-year-old bravely managed to fight on through a veil of blood from the very first round to successfully make the firs defence of his Lonsdale Belt, which he won in 2009, defeating another Scouser Tony Quigley.

The cuts he suffered, one opening up over his left eye and two on his forehead, will likely rule him out for up to six months, which may force Magee into looking elsewhere for his first defence.

“The cuts are healing fine, the only one to worry about is on my eye and that has healed the best of the three. The rest are in my hair!” said Smith.

“I expect to be back in the ring July time. The Magee fight is a possibility but it’s all on Brian Magee. I want the fight, if he is willing to defend against me then the fight is a possibility. I rate Magee, I admire him and respect him BUT I feel I beat him and beat him well” added Smith.. 

British Boxers caught up with Paul Smith to ask him his plans and to find out about Pauls career to date and to find out the real Paul “Smigga” Smith. 

Naming Mike Tyson as his hero and inspiration for becoming a boxer, along with “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Smith is ready to try and emulate his hero’s by by making the step up to world level and a world title.

Paul Smith started boxing at age nine with the Rotunda amateur boxing club Kirkdale in Liverpool, and fought in South Africa, Uzbekistan, and Denmark representing England as a young successfull amateur. (Paul with England coach Big Dave and boxing in Greece 2000)

Under the initial guidance of Jimmy Albertina and Paul Walmsley, The Kirkdale gym became one of the most successful club in Liverpool over the last  30 years, with a great history in churning out some of Liverpool’s best boxers including, Andy Holligan, Joey Frost and Tony Willis to name but a few.

Smith comes from a boxing family and he and  brothers Stephen and  Liam became the first group of siblings to all win The Amateur National Championships.

In 2002 he won a silver medal for his country in the Commonwealth Games losing to Jean Pascal by 2 points; Paul was then picked up by Frank Warren and turned Pro.
(winning silver at the Commonwealth Games 2002, from left, Paul, Jean Pascal, Craig McEwan & Junior Greenidge)

With good wins early on in his career, defeating the tough Ryan Walls and Steve Timms, and ended the latter’s career with a devastating first round knockout.

In 2007, in a milestone fight for Smith, he KO’d the Belgium Alexander Polizzi in Liverpool, winning the WBU International middleweight title in the eighth round.

After the Polizzi fight Smigga headed to the States to fight home town favorite Jonathan Reid; the Nashville, Tennessee, resident lost to Smith on a Technical Knockout.

Then in September 2007, after his American exposure, Smith joined nine other boxing hopefuls as members of Season 3 of hugely popular Contender series. Smith fought rival David Banks from Portland, Oregon, and ended with a win for Smith by split-decision.

However, since Smith had the lowest point total out of the remaining boxers, he was disqualified. The victory over David Banks was fought in Pasadena, USA and was broadcast on ESPN and ITV; Ray Leonard said Paul let his anger take away from his ability. Paul was left with two cuts, one on his nose and another around his eye; this meant he was medically unfit to continue the contest regardless of performance.

Smith returned to England and defeated Cello Renda to win the vacant English Middleweight title. He lost the title in his very next fight against Steven Bendall on 21 June, 2008 in Birmingham, England, on a much contested points decision.

On 30th October 2009 Smith challenged fellow scouser Tony Quigley for the British Middleweight title in Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Quigley was the holder after defeating Tony Dodson only months earlier at the same venue.

The fight was a tight affair with Smith eventually winning via split decision over 12 rounds thus crowning him the new British Middleweight title holder. Smith’s first defense of his title was the war with Dodson at the Echo arena.

Paul could still get the fight he craves, if the cuts heal in time, against former British Champion, and current European champ, Brian Magee, a fight that could possibly be on the under card of Kevin Mitchell’s world title bid at Upton Park. watch this space…

Paul took time out to speak to British Boxers in the In the Ring With? series which will be a new feature for British Boxers where we a short bio and interviews with your favorite British fighters past and present.

Paul, When and how did you get into boxing?

What was your first gym and trainer?

Amateur record?

70 (30+ stoppages) lost 15losses
Commonwealth Silver, Senior ABA Light middleweight Champion, 2 x Schools ABA Champion, 2 x Junior ABA champion. Medals in Multi-Nation tournaments for England Schools, Juniors and Seniors.

Which British Boxers should we look out for? 

My brothers Stephen & Liam, I’m bound to say that but trust me they can fight! (Pictured right; Paul aged 4, Stephen aged 2)
Tony Bellew, Paul Edwards, Joe Selkirk…. They’re local to me.
Nationally I’d say Mitchell, Macklin, Cleverley, Brook, Murray and Barker.

My son. My family. Basically just winning and being the best, making them proud of me. I get out of the ring and as long as I have my belt or a new one, to see every one’s faces when they look at me makes me happy. Making my family proud keeps me motivated.

There’s not much now to be changed, I feel boxing certainly in Britain is very safe and health conscious. Maybe on the world scene one or two of the governing bodies take the piss with these bogus titles they make up for a sanctioning fee, but we have no control over that.

All kinds. I have a pretty big collection of music. i used to DJ but have always been a fan of all music.

The Secret. Great book. I read now and then, keeps the mind stimulated.

Braveheart, Vanilla Sky, Rocky’s, Goodfellas, Casino. Loads really.

God knows. Anyone who did a proper Scouse accent…. It’s a hard one to do properly!

Pasta or steak and potatoes.

Las Vegas

Football – Liverpool

My brothers, gym mates, Macklin…. Loads. We’re lucky in boxing there’s loads of lads you meet who are diamonds. I’d be here all day naming them

Rachel McAdams – Tidy 😉
Gordon Ramsay – To cook whatever we caught.
Mark Knopfler – so we had someone who could play anything great on a guitar.

Not many people know that I race my pigeons, but I said it before so now they do!

On achievement it has to be Hatton or Lewis.
Whether people agree or not is another thing.
There’s been some great fighters and I wouldn’t disrespect them by giving my opinion on who’d have beaten who!

I think the site is keen, and that’s half the battle. You fire interviews out there and half the time it is better than getting the emails requesting, then the email to confirm an interview being arranged, then the interview actually happening! Keep it going and good luck with it!

Boxing or MMA/UFC
Boxing without doubt

Haye or Lewis?
Lewis no contest

Eubank or Benn?
Benn

Hatton or Khan?
Hatton

Heavyweight or Middleweight?
Middleweight

Mayweather or Paquiao?
Mayweather would beat him but I’m a Pacquiao fan.

Jab or Uppercut?
Jab

Red or Blue?
Red

City?
Liverpool!

Food?
Pasta

Drink?
Blackcurrant

Country?
USA

Animal?
Pigeon! 😉

Website?
www.britishboxers.co.uk 😉

One thing you cant live without?
My Son

Favorite Quote?
“If you go there in the mind, you’ll go there in the body”

Best gift you have ever been given?
My Son

What does your future hold for Paul Smith?
Hopefully a European title and a world title. That’s the dream and I’ll give it my all to make it come true!

Thanks for the interview, good luck with the site and THANK YOU to all my support, friends and family. Team Smith 😉