Liam Smith believes a huge boxing or UFC fight night will take place at Anfield next year as he continues his preparations for his rematch with Chris Eubank Jr.
Smith, who knocked Eubank Jr down twice in quick succession in the fourth round before the referee waved off the middleweight contest in Manchester back in January, has made no secret of his desire to fight at Anfield.
The ECHO understands that talks did take place between Boxxer and the Reds, but due to work on the Anfield Road stand, a summer showdown was not possible. The work on the stand has still not been completed.
However, as the two prepare to meet again at the AO Arena on Saturday night, Smith, who is a huge Liverpool supporter, knows that a win over Eubank Jr will move him one step closer to making his Anfield dream become a reality.
“If I beat Chris, my next one maybe could be at Anfield,” he told the ECHO. “I think there will definitely be a fight at Anfield next year, whether it is me or Callum.
“It was just unfortunate that this year the Anfield Road end work is going on, but there will be a show at Anfield next summer, whether it is boxing or UFC. There will be an event there next year.”
Asked who he would like to take on at Anfield, Smith replied: “Any fight there probably sells well. Whether it be me and Conor Benn or [Kell] Brook, Callum beats Artur Beterbiev, and he can defend his world titles there.
“But I think any fight that happens there is going to sell well because people are desperate for a fight at Anfield. Fingers crossed, it is around us.”
Smith and Eubank Jr were recently involved in a heated row after the latter claimed he was ‘dominating’ their fight before he was stopped.
“This time around, it has been more laughable,” Smith told the ECHO when asked about the claims. “He is making a fool of himself more than anything.
“Blaming referees, blaming elbows, blaming anything he possibly can. This time being a little bit more light-hearted and a bit different to the last one, it will be interesting to see what it will be like fight week.”