Paul Smith fancies ‘early’ stoppage for Jack Catterall against Linares

Former Liverpool boxer Paul Smith said he fancies an “early” stoppage for Jack Catterall when he takes on Jorge Linares in Liverpool tomorrow night (October 21).

Catterall takes on the former world champion at the M&S Bank Arena looking to get his second win in the North West in just five months.

Smith, 41, a former English middleweight title holder, said: “I’m expecting Linares to be a little bit cagey.

“I commentated on one a while ago when he got knocked out. I know he’s saying ‘I’ve lost before and come back then won world titles’ and I agree with that… but age beats us all and age catches up with us all – father time is unbeaten in boxing.”

He then expressed his confidence in Catterall, adding: “I fancy him early to be honest with you, once he starts landing big shots.”

On Catterall’s next fight, Smith said: “It’s (Linares) is a good name to have on his record, he (Catterall) should already be World Champion in my opinion.

“It’s up to his management team, they’ve done a good job with him before and with Matchroom behind him… that’ll catapult him into a position a bit more.”

Linares is a former three-weight world champion possessing a record of 47 wins, 29 by knockout, with just eight defeats.

Catterall boasts a record of 27 wins and one loss – the defeat coming due to a dubious judge’s decision against Josh Taylor.

Smith, on his brother Callum’s camp, added: “It’s good (camp)… there’s a long way to go yet, I think it’s 13 weeks tomorrow the fight or 12 weeks.

“We will get over to Quebec City. We need a good performance after Liam’s last one he wasn’t really himself.

“We will try and see Callum become a two-weight world champion.”

Callum Smith fights for the unified light heavyweight belts against Artur Beterbiev on January 13 after their original bout was postponed due to Beterbiev having dental surgery.