Tony Quigley is confident of retaining his British super-middleweight title in Friday's grudge match against fellow Liverpudlian Paul Smith.
Liverpool rivals have a point to prove on Friday Fight Night
Tony Quigley is confident of retaining his British super-middleweight title in Friday's grudge match against fellow Liverpudlian Paul Smith.
There is little love lost between the pair and they finally get to sort it out in the ring after Quigley took the title from Tony Dodson in a gruelling title fight in March.
Quigley has been unable to make his first defence until now after suffering a shoulder injury but the absence has only served to increase his hunger.
"I am British champion and it is going to stay that way. I do not want to give it away, especially to Paul Smith. There is a lot of pride at stake," he said.
"I know he will be looking for a knockout. He was asking me if I was going to run. He is worried about my boxing and he was going to say that.
"He wants me to stand there while he throws his punches but I am a clever man and I will play to my strengths."
The 25-year-old has been training for only his 15th bout for two and half months, and is raring to go.
"It has been hell and those past few weeks have seemed like a lifetime," he added. "I have been to north Wales for a bit of hill running - my dad has a caravan there. I also went to France and sparred with some top boxers.
"I have had to change my training to cope with 12-round fights. I feel good and confident."
Motivation
Smith's no-nonsense attitude contrasts with that of the champion, but he is determined to walk off with the belt in his first fight for the title.
"I have not been bothering with training camps and caravans and all that palaver, " he said. "I have been staying in my own place every day.
"I have had no problems motivating myself for this fight. I am fighting in my home city against a local rival and that is motivation in itself.
"Tony has always had little pops at me but we will see what happens on Friday. It is a bit of a bonus he does not like me.
"I have always said that if you give me 12 weeks notice for a fight I will be fine and this is my chance to prove it."
The fight is the headline at the Echo Arena after the Kell Brook-Michael Jennings bout was postponed, although the latter will now take part in an eight-rounder on the undercard while Olympians James DeGale and Frankie Gavin also return to action.
