Oct 29 2009 by Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo
Bring it on... Liverpool Boxer Tony Quigley is held back at boxing photocall alongside fellow scouser Paul Smith at Echo Arena
BRITISH super-middleweight champion Tony Quigley believes he’s got challenger Paul Smith running scared ahead of tomorrow’s derby day title fight at the ECHO Arena.
Both fighters had to be physically restrained and separated yesterday when tensions boiled over at the official final press conference.
The pair came head-to-head for a photograph in the shadows of the arena and Smith opened up a volley of trash talk before Quigley responded by stepping forward.
It was a million miles away from the amicable scenes inside Anfield’s trophy room six weeks ago. The love is definitely gone.
Both rival camps were forced to intervene yesterday to stop the fight starting 48 hours early, but smiling Quigley said afterwards: “He doesn’t scare me. His bottle has gone; again.
“He kept asking me if I was going to run. He’s terrified of me not standing and trading with him because he knows that’s the only hope he has of winning.
“He’s just scared of me boxing his head off because he knows that if I start boxing in there he won’t be able to live with me.
“But all that bravado and carrying on just told me one thing, that he’s scared.
“In the first press conference he bottled up and didn’t really say anything but he’s all brave now, with his family and boys with him.
“He wants me to stand there while he throws his punches but I am a clever fighter and I will play to my strengths, not his.”
He added: “But I’m not afraid of Paul Smith and maybe I will stand and trade with him, beat him at his own game.”
Smith, speaking during the press conference, said: “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.
“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.
“It 100% doesn’t matter what Quigley brings to the ring as I know I will beat him. I will win this fight.”
Quigley, 25, has not fought since beating Tony Dodson at the ECHO Arena in March after suffering from a shoulder injury.
But he has been training for this fight, remarkably only his 15th, for two and half months.
He added: “It has been hell and those past few weeks have seemed like a lifetime.
“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 but I feel good and confident.”
Smith also insists that his training camp has gone to plan and will be 100% when the bell goes tomorrow.
Despite having fought 28 times as a pro, twice as many as the champion, Smith has never headlined a card of this size but believes that familiarity and home comforts have been the key to his training camp.
Smith, 27, countered: “I’ve not been bothering with training camps and caravans and all that palaver. I have been staying in my own place every day.
“I’ve not changed anything for this fight. He’s been doing things differently to fight me, but I’ve not changed my routine.”
Promoter Frank Warren failed to hide his excitement yesterday and is clearly delighted that this derby day title match-up is, what he hopes, the first of many big shows he stages at the city’s new arena.
He buzzed: “It’s a brilliant main event no getting away from it. It’s got all the ingredients of a special fight.
“You also have to remember that these guys are under a lot of pressure here. This is a massive show in their home town and the attention they are under is incredible.
“And regardless of who is the bigger puncher or the better boxer when it comes down to it I believe the winner will be the fighter who is mentally stronger.”
Early reports suggest a crowd in excess of 5,000 could file through the arena doors tomorrow, although a 6,000 capacity sell-out isn’t out of the question.
Asked for their final fight predictions Quigley finished: “I really don’t care how I win to be honest. As long as I win. As long as I take the belt home with me I will be happy.”
Challenger Smith adding: “I believe I’ll win by knockout. I’ll stop him.”
Tickets for tomorrow’s show are still available from the box office priced from £30 to £200.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/boxing/2009/10/29/paul-smith-is-scared-of-me-tony-quigley-100252-25040479/
