Paul Smith Vs Tony Dodson Live Odds

It seems there is a boxing gym on most corners in Liverpool. Boxing is engrained in the city’s psyche almost as much as football and music. But while it has been years since the likes of John Conteh or Ernie Roderick plied their trade, there is a comeback in the offing.


Leading the renaissance is Paul Smith, who makes the first defence of his British super-middleweight title on Friday night against Tony Dodson, a fellow Liverpudlian, at the Echo Arena, where Smith won the title last October from Tony Quigley, another scouser.

Smith learnt his trade at Rotunda, Dodson at Gemini, two of the numerous clubs that have been taking keen athletes as well as troubled youngsters off Liverpool’s streets for years. Belfast is probably the only city in the UK with a similar club to population ratio.

“It’s a very Liverpool working-class thing, you are not going to get many lacrosse clubs round here,” Smith said. “But it would be good to see all the boxing clubs full. Boxing teaches kids respect and a lot could do with that.”