Liam Smith v Anthony Fowler Boxing Betting Tips & Predictions

Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder is not the only huge fight taking place on Saturday. The Liverpool Arena will host a local scrap that has the whole city buzzing.

The Smith brothers are like royalty in Liverpool and Liam will be flying the flag for them when he goes up against another Liverpool fans favourite in Anthony Fowler.

The arena will be split cheering for these two quality fighters, and it has the potential of being one of the best fights of 2021.

This will be a super welterweight clash – or light-middleweight if you want to use old money. Smith is a former WBO light-middleweight champion, while Fowler won the WBA international super welterweight belt back in 2019.

Smith has been in the ring with Canelo Alvarez, and although he suffered a ninth-round stoppage defeat, he showed he has plenty of heart. He has also been forced to dig deep against Liam Williams.

Smith is a warrior. He doesn’t know when to give in. If you manage to stop the Liverpudlian, then you have more than earned your victory.

The 33-year-old has tasted three defeats in his career – one was against Canelo and the other two were against Jamie Munguia and Magomed Kurbanov.

His last defeat took place in Russia in May when he failed to win the WBO International light-middleweight belt. Personally, I thought Smith won the fight, but it was no surprise when the Russian got his hand raised on home soil.

Fowler has only been beaten once in his 16 professional fights. That defeat came back in 2019 when he was beaten on points by Scott Fitzgerald for the vacant WBA International super-welterweight title.

Since then, he has won his last six fights, with his last four fights all being ended by knockout. Fowler has won 12 of his 15 wins by way of knockout, and he will be looking to add Smith to that list.

As I have already mentioned, it is very hard to knockout out Smith. Only the great Canelo has done that, so I am not sure Fowler can get his arm raised in that manner.

This will be a war, and I seriously cannot wait for this fight. Both fighters have home advantage – which is very strange outside of London – and it will be a cacophony of noise.

I honestly think Smith needs this win more than Fowler. If Smith loses, I am not sure what other big fights are out there for him. Fowler is three years younger than Smith, if he loses, he will have his day again, I am not sure Smith will.

Saying that I am backing Smith to win this after 12 rounds of bruising and entertaining action. I am backing Smith to win on points.

Liam Smith v Anthony Fowler Boxing Betting Tips & Predictions: Fighter's Predictions

Liam Smith: “Beating Anthony Fowler doesn’t get me any closer to fighting for a world title in my career. I don’t say that as if I’m overlooking him. Anybody above me isn’t going to look on paper and think, ‘Wow, Liam Smith beat Anthony Fowler in the UK.’ But if you look and it says Fowler beat Smith, then it’s a big statement. I’ve never lost to a domestic fighter as a pro. I’ll beat Anthony Fowler; I’ll never lose to a domestic fighter. That’s a good little record to have. I turned pro and I’ve had 30-odd fights and I’ve never lost to a Brit. If I beat Fowler, I’m not going to fight another domestic fighter again, unless it’s a (Chris) Eubank or someone like that. I’m confident that I beat Anthony Fowler every day of the week and twice on Sunday. If I turn up at 100% then I beat Anthony Fowler. The way I see the fight going, it’ll be competitive early doors and then experience, cuteness and everything else will come on. I’ll stop him down the straight. I think he’s a good fighter for four rounds, but he reverts back to what he does. Once it goes past four rounds, the fight is only going one way. I’ll just show him I’m that little bit of a step ahead and he wasn’t ready for that step up just yet. I’ve been in with bigger punches, better fighters, I’ve been in local derbies with my brothers, he’s got a lot to deal with next week. We’ll have fun in the build-up when he’s back in Liverpool. We’ll have some fun and games.”

Anthony Fowler: “He’s a good fighter, he’s experienced, he’s been around the block. He’s fought some good fighters and he’s a good fighter himself, so I’ve prepared for a hard night. I think he’s probably seen his best days. I think his best days are behind him, but I think he’s got plenty left in the tank. He’s just boxed 12 rounds and was unlucky not to get it [the decision] in Russia, so he’s obviously still at a high standard but I do think he has peaked, yeah. I think my fitness is much better than it used to be,” Fowler explained. I can do 12 rounds comfortably in the gym which at Dave [Coldwell]’s was a struggle. At Shane’s (McGuigan) we spar a lot of rounds, and he works you at a high intensity all the time, even when you’re on the pads, so I think my fitness has really improved and I’ll need it in this fight. I’ve always had a good jab, but I don’t think I used it as much as I should have at the start of my career and I think Shane’s brought the best out of me.”