Liam Smith Reveals Untold Stories & Draws Back The Curtain On The Boxing Industry. Canelo, Eubank Jr
Liam Smith joins Darren Barker on First Round TV to deliver one of the most honest and powerful interviews in British boxing. From the rough streets of Liverpool to world title glory, Liam tells the full story — no filters, no fluff.
In this deeply personal conversation, Liam opens up about:
🧒 Growing up in a boxing-mad household with the legendary Smith brothers
🥊 Sparring in the living room as kids — with ornaments flying!
🏆 Becoming Liverpool’s first world champion in 22 years
💔 The pain of politics in amateur boxing — and why he turned pro early
💥 Fighting Canelo Alvarez in Texas and why he was convinced he’d win
🧠 The mental toll of boxing and watching his brothers fight
💸 Being short-changed for the Canelo fight — and his biggest regrets
🛑 The truth about the Chris Eubank Jr. rematch
🇬🇧 Why the British Title still eats away at him — and the belt they never got to keep
⚽️ And how football nearly stole him away from boxing…
This is Liam Smith like you’ve never seen him before — reflective, open, and fiercely proud of his journey.
👊 Whether you're a hardcore fight fan or just love real human stories, this one hits hard.
Transcript
00:00 – Intro: Darren meets Liam Smith in Liverpool
02:00 – Early boxing memories & ABA days
04:00 – “I never dreamt of boxing” – Liam’s surprise journey
06:00 – First titles, regrets, and the Eubank Jr. rematch
09:00 – Smith brothers' beginnings & sparring in the house
12:00 – Childhood stories & the Rotunda gym
15:00 – Pressure, parenting, and sibling support
18:00 – Amateur career: 78 fights, winning nationals
21:00 – Why Liam turned pro early (and skipped the Olympics)
24:00 – Football vs boxing: which one had his heart?
27:00 – Pro debut at Everton Park & early rise
30:00 – Commonwealth title: the first big belt
33:00 – Family pressure & winning the British title
36:00 – The one belt that got away
39:00 – Becoming world champion vs John Thompson
43:00 – Paul & Stephen’s title losses and brotherly bonds
46:00 – The Canelo Alvarez fight: mindset, build-up & reality
50:00 – Getting dropped in round 7: turning point
53:00 – How much he got paid (and underpaid) for Canelo
56:00 – Comparing Canelo to Jaime Munguia
59:00 – The Vegas mistake: jet lag, altitude, and prep gone wrong
::1:05:00 – Liam Williams fights: weight miss, promotion drama
::1:14:00 – Sparring styles, pressure fighting & finding his rhythm
::1:22:00 – How close the brothers really are
::1:30:00 – What drives Liam today – still hungry for more
::1:38:00 – Darren & Liam reflect on respect, rivalry & brotherhood
::11:00 – Their dad’s influence and support
12:00 – Did the brothers ever fight on the same show?
13:10 – The pressure of watching siblings box
14:10 – Amateur record: 78 fights, national titles, England call-up
15:40 – Politics in amateur boxing and Olympic dream missed
17:00 – Turning pro after ABA title win
18:20 – Early pro mindset: All in on boxing
19:10 – Football vs Boxing – where Liam’s passion truly was
20:00 – Pro debut at Everton Park, sharing the card with his brother
21:15 – Imagining his ring walk as a kid
22:30 – Winning the Commonwealth title – first big moment
24:00 – Family pressure & following in his brothers’ footsteps
25:20 – The one belt that still haunts him: the British title
27:00 – The Smith household holding three British titles at once
28:20 – World title fight build-up: John Thompson, sparring Soro
29:40 – Finding his style and strengths as a pro fighter
31:00 – The fight itself: Liam Smith vs John Thompson
32:00 – The moment he became world champion
33:30 – Paul & Stephen’s tough world title losses
35:00 – Facing Canelo Alvarez – mindset going in
36:15 – What convinced him he could beat Canelo
37:30 – Underpaid for the fight & contract frustrations
39:00 – What Canelo did in round 7 – turning point
40:30 – How Liam views the fight now, with respect
41:30 – Canelo’s relaxed style, defense & pressure
43:00 – Comparing Canelo & Munguia
44:20 – Fight build-up challenges before Munguia bout
45:30 – What went wrong in Vegas – altitude, jet lag
47:00 – The only time Liam looked at the round card during a fight
48:30 – Munguia’s relentless pressure and Liam’s response
50:00 – Reflections on that loss: frustration, honesty
51:00 – Trying to get another world title shot
52:00 – The Liam Williams fights: weight miss, arguments with Frank Warren
53:30 – Why he didn’t get the British belt outright
55:00 – Frustrations with boxing politics & belt rules
56:30 – Wrapping up: legacy, love for the sport, and what’s next