Liam Smith 'gutted' after losing WBO world title

Liam Smith admitted he was "gutted" after losing his WBO world super-welterweight title to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Texas on Saturday night.

Smith was floored three times before a huge body shot in the ninth round saw him crumple to his first defeat of his professional career.

"I wasn't coming for the occasion, I'm gutted," Smith told Boxnationofficial as he left the AT&T Arena.

"I'll probably cry my eyes out tonight when I go to bed. I didn't come to make up numbers and fight in front of 50,000 people; I came to win but lost my title tonight."

The Liverpudlian (23-1-1-KO13) will now return home and lick his wounds before getting back on the world title trail.

"We'll go back, obviously have a little time off, let the cuts heal and then go back in the gym and start working back towards another world title shot," the 28-year-old said.

"The week was unbelievable. I wish I could do the whole week again. I loved every bit of it, everything up to the fight. We'll have to go back and see what I learned from it, but I loved it all apart from the end result."

Trainer Joe Gallagher believes "Beefy" will emerge from his first career defeat as better fighter.

"People gave Canelo loads of stick for taking this fight but I think there was surprise at how competitive the fight was," Gallagher added on Boxnationofficial.

"Saul Alvarez may have won the fight but didn't have it all his own way.

"Liam came through this experience and will be better for it, he's had a taste of the big time and I'm sure he'll be wanting to get in there and more importantly he wants to win his world title back again.