Showing no Mersey

Adam Smith is off to Liverpool to see if the bad blood between Paul Smith and Tony Dodson boils over...

Liverpool divided as Smith and Dodson prepare to do battle

As a life-long Liverpool fan, I always relish covering sport on Merseyside. There's just something extremely special about the people, the fervour, the tension, the atmosphere, the excitement, the love, the way they come together through tragedies like Hillsborough and the James Bulger atrocity. Liverpool's always been a proud boxing city. We were treated to the world flyweight champion Peter Kane in the thirties; Alan Rudkin became the British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight king, Ernie Roderick was the British middleweight champion, and also won the British and European welterweight titles. Birkenhead's Pat McAteer captured the British and Empire middleweight crowns, and the city's most famous fighting son, John Conteh, was the WBC light-heavyweight champion from 1974-1977. In the nineties Liverpool provided the world featherweight champion Paul Hodkinson, 'The Choirboy' Peter Culshaw, and that popular, exciting throwback Shea Neary. Now meet the fighter known as Smigga. Or 'The Real Gone Kid'. Paul Smith is one of the most charismatic boxers in Britain. I've known him for years. A loveable Scouser, and a bit of a 'Scally'... but then that's what's great about him. For a long time, Paul's been on the fringes and around the scene, possessing plenty of promise and bags of talent, but yet not really delivering. The former amateur stand-out from Bootle who honed his skills at Rotunda ABC, and became both a Commonwealth Games silver medallist and an ABA champion, has been one of those real slow-burners. Smith turned pro in April 2003 in a blaze of publicity with Frank Warren, yet he had to juggle his boxing whilst also working for the Inland Revenue. To add to the problem, Paul was plagued by injuries and inactivity and for all his ability, started to look lethargic, even lazy in the ring. There was probably too much time spent hanging out with Stevie Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. A keen DJ, Paul was probably a bit too image conscious, and started to get the reputation as a boxing 'spice boy'!

Blagged

I have enjoyed plenty of social occasions with Smigga - particularly when he was Ricky Hatton's stablemate. He's infectious to be around and we share a deep love for Liverpool Football Club. Typically Paul blagged European Cup Final tickets from TV executives, and we met up a few years back in Athens. He's always the first call I make if I'm anywhere near the city, and my mum thinks the world of Paul and his family. So does Frank Warren, who's stuck by Paul through thick and thin. Even though Frank is a huge Arsenal fan, they enjoy lively banter. It's hard not too with Smigga! A couple of years back, Paul found himself in the middle of the much-publicised split between Frank and Billy Graham. He's had to chop and change trainers - and even spent some time Stateside with Buddy McGirt. After a poor, sole defeat to Steve Bendall in June 2008, he re-dedicated himself to the sport he loves, and finally it has all started to click. He now has a settled family life, dotes on his son Paul Jr, has a solid old-fashioned, no-nonsense Liverpool trainer in George Vaughan, and he has settled up in the 12-stone super-middleweight division. The opening of the Echo Arena in Liverpool's been a great incentive too. Having been around the Hitman, he's always liked the big events and sold thousands of tickets for his grudge match with Paul Quigley last October. In a battle of big Reds, Smith pipped Quigley but it was a tough, messy fight. Still, Paul lifted the British 12-stone belt and was understandably overjoyed. His first defence against another cross-city rival Tony Dodson should provide a real firecracker. Again there is no love lost here and the needle seems even worse than it was with Quigley. Apparently Dodson has been ripping up Liverpool papers and sporting magazines with Smith's face in them! There's been many words exchanged in the build-up - some relating to the sparring sessions they've had together. Psychology playing a part yes, but I really don't think they like each other - even if they are both such lovely guys.

Wannabe

"I admire and like his family," Tony told me at the fiery head-to-head press conference this week. "But I can't stand Paul."
"He's just an idiot," Paul said after blanking Tony at the dias.
"No respect for the way he shouts his mouth off. None at all."
"I'm just burning to get at him. Fake wannabe," said Dodson.
"Class will tell. I'll knock him out," retorted Smith. There was even talk of 'outside in the car park now' stuff! To coin a phrase, 'calm down, calm down' - for the moment at least boys!What we can be sure of is burning intensity in the ring, where their aggressive styles should blend very well. Dodson's a former champion, who's determined to win his belt back. A real warrior, his best days may be behind him, but Tony has whipped himself into shape under savvy trainer Dave Coldwell, and is absolutely buzzing. I expect a determined and valiant effort as always, but I think Tony's punch resistance has become more questionable of late, and he's been out of the ring for a year. I pick Smith to out-last Dodson in a thriller. Paul is incredibly one of four boxing brothers and they're all fighting on Friday! Stephen (who I really rate) and Liam are on the same bill. Callum's in action more than 4,000 miles away - in the Commonwealth Federation Championships in Delhi. He's also hoping to become the fourth brother to win an ABA title. That would be some achievement. "Extraordinary," said their trainer George Vaughan. "But about a hundred years ago, there were seven brothers on one bill here in Liverpool! They were the Brileys. My great grandfather boxed one of them! It was around the time of the music hall and apparently they were better known as comedians! They were hard though. Heard they could fight proper."

Broken

"Liverpool lads have the toughest upbringing," the city's bright hope Tony Bellew (pictured) shouted at his rival for the Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight championship, Ghana's Atoli Moore. "You might be from Africa, but our forefathers worked in the docks. Nowhere breeds them harder. You call yourself 'The Deadly Spear'. You'll be the broken spear when I smash you to pieces on Friday!" he continued. Bellew's a great character and the three-time ABA king's unbeaten. He intends to stay that way. With Frank Maloney's emerging heavyweight David Price and flyweight Paul Edwards to add to the mix, good times lie ahead for Liverpool boxing. Friday night will be a cracker on the banks of the Mersey. Sheffield starlet Kell Brook joins the party and it will be good to focus on his continued development. Kell knows he is some way off from fighting the likes of World welterweight king Manny Pacquiao, but like all of us, he will be tuning in to watch the ferocious Filipino in the early hours of Sunday morning. First though, a domestic dust-up with bad blood, fierce pride and plenty of quality. Let's hope it lives up to the Gary Sykes-Andy Morris mini-classic of last week. So will Smith or Dodson have the bragging rights to be boxing king of this fabulous city? I know one thing's for sure - win or lose, I'll be seeing Smigga the next time I'm at Anfield. Hopefully with something to cheer about... please Rafa!