Liam Smith World Champion

Liam Smith stopped USA's John Thompson in the 7th round last night to win the WBO Light Middleweight belt.

I know some of you on here won't agree with Smith getting a title but I say well done Liam!

Do you see any of the other Smith brothers winning a world strap?

If Liam can win one then Stephen and Callum can, starting to agree with Truss to an extent, Smith against Thompson for a vacant title is a joke, wonder if Andrade wants his title back.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:If Liam can win one then Stephen and Callum can, starting to agree with Truss to an extent, Smith against Thompson for a vacant title is a joke, wonder if Andrade wants his title back.

Well Stephen smith is now mandatory for the IBF strap against the champion Pedraza, i favour Pedraza in that one just

Good stoppage by Smith although I think rounds 1-5 show just how easily he'd be outmanoeuvred and outboxed by the top LMWs. Can't see him coming close to beating the Charlo Twins, Willie Nelson or Julian Williams. Lara and Canelo would destroy him. Still think he would really struggle against Soro, possibly wouldn't be champ if that fight had come off.

I don't like the fact that he never faced a top 20 opponent and was then handed a shot at a vacant title against a late replacement who was also not top 20. Don't blame the guy for taking the opportunity offered to him, and props on the victory but winning a world title in any division should be difficult, but especially at LMW where the talent pool is pretty deep.

Pound-for-Pound wrote:Good stoppage by Smith although I think rounds 1-5 show just how easily he'd be outmanoeuvred and outboxed by the top LMWs. Can't see him coming close to beating the Charlo Twins, Willie Nelson or Julian Williams. Lara and Canelo would destroy him. Still think he would really struggle against Soro, possibly wouldn't be champ if that fight had come off.

I don't like the fact that he never faced a top 20 opponent and was then handed a shot at a vacant title against a late replacement who was also not top 20. Don't blame the guy for taking the opportunity offered to him, and props on the victory but winning a world title in any division should be difficult, but especially at LMW where the talent pool is pretty deep.

Lets not forget that the WBO magically overlook Austin Trout for this vacant title fight despite him being above Thompson in their ratings

Selby....Degale....Brook....Frampton.....McDonnell....

Congratulations to these world champions..

Hammersmith harrier wrote:If Liam can win one then Stephen and Callum can, starting to agree with Truss to an extent, Smith against Thompson for a vacant title is a joke, wonder if Andrade wants his title back.

Yet you and Truss moan and call me and old fuddy duddy when I suggest a one belt era and scrapping the junior divisions.

Smith is as good as a world champion as Brook is in todays world.

Cheers , Rodders

I like the junior divisions until we go as low as122 and I prefer a two belt system..

Brook beat Porter.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I like the junior divisions up until 122 and I prefer a two belt system..

Brook beat Porter

And ? Porter isnt the best fighter in the divison. You mention Selby yet the guy he beat was absolutely ordinary. I think we need to look past the tag of world champion these days.

Cheers, rodders

I agree but I can stomach guys with talent winning alphabets....Not any old garbage...

Is it an actual title he's got then or another interim bollox, i'm losing track now. Good to see Flanaghan win though, especially in such a fashion as a lot of people thought it was gonna be a step to far for him.

It is hard to keep up way who is holding straps these days.

I personally would scrap every junior division apart from Jr welter. And also keep SMW.

Could care less about cruiserweight. It is p1sh.

Derbymanc wrote:Is it an actual title he's got then or another interim bollox, i'm losing track now. Good to see Flanaghan win though, especially in such a fashion as a lot of people thought it was gonna be a step to far for him.

Its an actual title and not an interim.

Cracking win for Flanagan your right, i bet he takes on Derry Matthews next

Can't wait......

Let's see which chump the alphabet sneaks in it's top 10 for Smith's first defence.

Apparently Smith and Mosley have been going at it on Twitter. Unfortunately I can see that fight being made as his first defence.

Shame we didn't have all these titles 40 years ago......Brave guys who gave their all to win a belt like Johnny Owen and Kiko Bejines would probably still be alive..

Pound-for-Pound wrote:Apparently Smith and Mosley have been going at it on Twitter. Unfortunately I can see that fight being made as his first defence.

disgrace if it happens

Rodney wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:If Liam can win one then Stephen and Callum can, starting to agree with Truss to an extent, Smith against Thompson for a vacant title is a joke, wonder if Andrade wants his title back.

Yet you and Truss moan and call me and old fuddy duddy when I suggest a one belt era and scrapping the junior divisions.

Smith is as good as a world champion as Brook is in todays world.

Cheers , Rodders

I've always been pro one belt Rodney whilst the junior divisions from Light Welterweight upwards do have a place in the sport, the jumps above that were too big without junior divisions.

Brook beat an actual world champion for his title whereas Smith won a vacant belt against a late replacement, the two situations are nothing alike.

Flanagan was quite impressive against Magdaleno who is no mug, legitimises his title a bit.

people will probably say now Magdaleno was rubbish after what Flanagan did to him, however I believe he is a very good fighter who in my eyes beat Rocky Martinez when he fought him no so long back. He was coming up a division but still a very good win for Terry