Liverpool boxer and British champion Paul Smith believes there is “no limit” on what he can achieve after successfully defending his Lonsdale belt against local rival Tony Dodson last month.
Smith overcame two horrendous cuts to see off Dodson on points in front of a sell-out crowd at the city’s Echo Arena and is now in line to challenge for the European title currently held by Belfast’s Brian Magee.
One more successful defence of his title and a victory over Magee could see the avid Liverpool FC supporter clinch a shot at a world title.
He is currently ranked No 4 by the WBO and could be given a chance to challenge for the WBO world title because two other fighters, Arther Abraham and Allan Green, are ineligible to box for it due to them appearing in the Super Six tournament which features Britain’s Carl Froch.
Smith told JMU Journalism: “The BBOC have just called for Brian Magee as my mandatory challenger for my British title, so that fight has to happen before the end of July this year. He also has the EBU belt so that fight will be for both.”
The devoted Catholic, who wears rosary beads when entering the ring and has a tattoo of Our Lady on his left arm, has admitted he needs time to recover before fighting for the European crown after needing to receive 18 stitches for four different wounds after the bout with Dodson.
He said: “I have had four weeks off to let my cuts and hand heal up and mentally get back to normality of relaxing. I’m ready to go after four weeks.”
It seems as though not even the sky is the limit for the ‘Real Gone Kid’, who wants to put his name alongside the likes of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe.
Smith said: “There is no limit. I hate the way people limit their own potential. I feel the better my oponent, the better I will fight. So hopefully when I fight the best in the world, I will beat the best in the world. Well, that’s the plan anyway! God willing.”