Liam Smith believes that his upcoming clash with Anthony Fowler is a ‘big fight’.
The former WBO light middleweight champion will face Fowler on October 9 in his Liverpool hometown, in a clash of Liverpudlians.
Speaking on the DAZN Boxing Show , Smith said: It's a massive fight for me. I lose slightly farther and farther from Liverpool. I think Shane McGuigan's hoping I'm overlooking the fight a little bit and - no - totally wrong. I'm totally focused on the fight. And I'll show that October 9.”
He believes that Shane McGuigan might be talking up his potential complacency to give Fowler some confidence going into the clash.
“I know Shane is not stupid. He knows I'm not,” he began.
“He also has to plant that seed in Anthony's head for him to believe he wins this fight. Most good coaches do that. And they need to be on the shoulder to reassure me.
“But you know, he can beat me, and I see them saying my face will be marked up after four rounds. I know Shane's also not stupid, but I know he knows. And I'm far from finished. And I think I've seen an interview with him saying I was hoping for bigger fights.
“So they’re probably hoping [that]I was hoping for bigger fights. I'm not really concentrating on Anthony.. I'll be 100% for Fowler.”
Smith praised Fowler for some of his skills, while still believing there were enough weaknesses to give him hope.
“I think he's a good fighter. I think he does things well,” he began.
“He's got pros and cons. He does lots of things well, he does lots of things very ordinary.
“I think he runs out of ideas after three or four rounds. He is clumsy, he's not very good inside and what I believe: don't let this machine mentality he puts put through the name come into play.”