Smith and Skoglund go head-to-head in Liverpool

Photo credit World Boxing Super Series

Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) and Erik Skoglund (26-0, 12 KOs) came head to head at the Town Hall in Liverpool before their hotly anticipated Ali Trophy quarter-final bout at the Echo Arena on Saturday.

“’I’ve got no regret about picking Erik as an opponent,” said Smith. “I picked Erik because I thought stylistically he would bring out the best in me. The best version of me will beat the best version of him because I am the better fighter. I think on Saturday in front of my hometown fans you will see a very good performance from myself.”

‘’I’ve been in Liverpool for a few days now,” said Skoglund. “It’s a nice place, a nice town, so far so good. Normally I am fighting in my hometown in Sweden with all the expectations and the pressure from the fans. Here I am the underdog, all the pressure is on Callum.”

“I can’t wait to step into the ring. I will do my best, I am happy with the role as an underdog. I am always confident, this is a fight between two undefeated and confident guys, but I believe I have what it takes to win.”

“This will be a close fight,” said Johan Skoglund, Erik’s dad and trainer. “We have a good plan, and we think we can do this. We will try whatever we can to get the win and process in the tournament.”

“It’s amazing to be in Liverpool with such good athletes,”

Said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer:

We have two of the best young challengers out there, two guys waiting for their shots, waiting to beat the best and be the best. It’s going to be a super fight on Saturday!”

Tickets for the Smith-Skoglund Muhammad Ali Trophy quarter-final and WBC Diamond World title contest on Saturday, September 16 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool are available at www.stubhub.com