liam smith was he a real world champion

No, he beat an area level opponent to win the crappy vacant brown pos belt, however he defended against Canelo and showed true heart in that fight. I was impressed with him in that one.

 

I agree but the governing bodies made the rules, Andrade vacated and WBO made those guys #1 and #2 at the time.

It's a shame he's never had that BIG win before Eubank (& even classing that as "big" is questionable).

Like Liam so I would like him to get one of the champs next and leave no doubt.

 

Jesus Christ very few beat the top fellas to win a world title as there is 4 bodies and the boxers promoter maneuvers them .

 

He was actually an Area champion when he got given the shot. Completely unacceptable.

 

Bit of an insult to compare Smith to Martin

At least he actually won his title in a contest with a legit finish

 

World level but not world class

 

Martin was really poor. Bloody awful.

 

Liam smith is a man that does the basics very well but he still looks basic. No real excitement, no flair etc like the top guys. I do like him and rate him and even enjoy watching him even tho I just labelled him basic.

I would back him to beat Andrade now and even a couple of years ago. He lost to Canelo no real shame in that, equivalent to Froch losing to ward.

 

the mid 2010s saw many ‘weak’ British world champions - Smith, Crolla, Flanagan, Lee Haskins, Stuey Hall, Cleverley, probably more I’m forgettinng. can’t imagine them winning world titles nowadays.

was it a temporarily poor worldwide talent pool, the rock solid org connections of Eddie and Frank, or both?

 

You’re right, Britain had about 25 world champions every other week! I think cleverly was the real deal and would always do well. Nobody knew how good Kovalev was when he fought him and he went on to have some top fights. Think it was Fonfara he lost too, great fight. Bit like Ricky Burns v Figueroa, another top fight.

 

Rocky Fielding was another, he was hopeless against Canelo.

 

Rocky Fielding was hopeless against anyone, I don't class him a world champion. No way.

 

Do you put the likes of Burns, Quigg, Selby, Degale, Barker, Brook, Bellew in that mix?

 

Definitely not. Bit before my time but Bellew won against a legitimate fighter in Makabu who many said would stop him. Brook shouldn’t even be discussed. His win over Porter in the US who was the World Champion is one of the greatest wins by a UK fighter ever in my opinion.

He beat Tyron Zeuge in Germany by stoppage but it was for the Regular Title so I guess it doesn’t count ?

Connections played a big part, Warren with the WBO, and to a lesser extent, Hearn with the IBF.

You could add Paul Butler, Kal Yafai and Jamie McDonnell to that list maybe as well. To be fair though with the lower weights it’s harder to say.