Liam Smith understands more than most the doubters. He gets why Canelo Alvarez is a 12-1 favorite on Saturday to defeat him and lift the WBO junior middleweight title in the main event of a pay-per-view card at AT&T Stadium outside of Dallas.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya chose Smith as Alvarez?s opponent for the bout on Mexican Independence Day weekend for two reasons: They believe he has little chance to win, and he?s likely going to come right at Alvarez.
Alvarez, the Mexican superstar whose only loss in 49 professional fights was a 2013 defeat at the hands of the great Floyd Mayweather, usually tears that kind of a fighter apart.
Alvarez is unquestionably one of the world?s best pound-for-pound fighters, but he has trouble with slick boxers and those who use their legs. That manifested itself most obviously in his loss to Mayweather, but also in wins over Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout where he struggled more than normal to win.
It?s why, when he chose to give up his middleweight title belt and pass on a fight with Gennady Golovkin, his team chose Smith and not other 154-pound champions like Demetrius ?Boo Boo? Andrade.
This, as consultant Mark Taffet, a former HBO Sports executive, told Yahoo Sports, is an event designed to showcase Alvarez.
?This event was conceived as a Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration for Canelo?s fans,? Taffet said. ?It is the first time Canelo is headlining a [pay-per-view] event on this day, which is so important to Canelo and his fans. As such the goal was to put together an entertaining card for his fans. With Canelo going for Smith?s title and with JoJo Diaz and Diego De La Hoya engaging in their toughest fights to date, I believe the event will fulfill the expectations of Canelo?s loyal fans at the stadium and at home on PPV.
?With Oscar passing the baton of having a Latino superstar headline a PPV event Mexican Independence Day weekend, and with over 35,000 tix already sold at AT&T stadium, I believe this will be a fulfilling live and PPV event and an important start of a new era for Canelo and his fans.?
Smith must feel like the king of the Misfit Toys given the odds against the fighters on the B side. Still, he takes the criticism in stride. He?s 23-0-1 and comes from a boxing family, in which all three of his brothers (Paul, Stephen and Callum) are pro boxers.
He is fighting for the first time outside the United Kingdom and hasn?t had the kind of big-name opponent before that might have gotten him attention from American boxing fans.
He?s not angry at his situation and peeved at the slight. He accepts it as part of the way the boxing business has evolved.
?I?m not stupid,? Smith said. ?I know on paper I?m the ?B? side of this fight. Canelo?s the big name. It?s always Canelo, and it?s Mexican Independence Day, so I know that. But I am the champion, and just looking back on that, that is one reason why I hope they?ll respect that I?m champion and be fair. If I win the fight, then make sure I get the decision. Give me the respect I deserve.
?? I?m not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I?ve got a title to lose. So I?ve taken this fight because it?s an opportunity to make a name for myself and establish myself as one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the world.?
It?s a long shot, but Mike Tyson lost as a 42-1 favorite to Buster Douglas and as a 25-1 favorite to Evander Holyfield.
Upsets at this level happen, though they?re rare.
The problem for Smith is that his style feeds into exactly what Alvarez likes to do. When Alvarez fought James Kirkland last year, he knew exactly what to expect from Kirkland, who is aggressive almost to the point of being reckless. He came roaring at Alvarez, who brutally knocked Kirkland out in the third round.
