Liam Smith set to challenge WBO champion Sadam Ali

LIAM SMITH, the former WBO super-welterweight world champion, is set to box for his old title. He will fight new titlist Sadam Ali with the date and venue still to be finalised.

“That’s going to happen,” Smith’s promoter Frank Warren told Boxing News.

Smith had lost his WBO world title to Canelo Alvarez in 2016, who would ultimately vacate it to move up in weight. Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto won the vacant title and then lost it in his last fight at Madison Square Garden to New Yorker Sadam Ali. Meanwhile Smith had to come through two exciting fights with Welsh rival Liam Williams.

Smith is now on course to challenge new world champion Ali, who is represented by US promotional powerhouse Golden Boy. “I’m in negotiations with Golden Boy. I was hoping to get it done this week but early next week we’ll have that resolved,” his promoter Warren said.

There’s an outside chance that Smith-Ali could fetch up on the Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin undercard at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 5. “Maybe,” Smith’s promoter said, “but let’s see…”