BoxRec

Press Release

Former 154-pound title holder Liam Smith will travel to Russia to take on undefeated Magomed Kurbanov in Ekaterinburg on Saturday May 8th. Full credit to Smith (29-2-1, 16 KOs) as Kurbanov (21-0, 13 KOs) is highly touted junior middleweight.

Kuranov missed his big break a few years ago when a scheduled fight vs. Shane Mosley fell through due to an injury to Mosley (that forced Mosley to retire).

Kurbanov has won all 21 of the fights in his career, with the most recent of those coming in November 2020, where he stopped Dmitry Mikhaylenko in just two rounds.

Smith was last in action in December 2019, when he defeated Roberto Garcia by unanimous decision in Phoenix, Arizona. It was his third win in a row, following stoppage victories over Mario Alberto Lozano and Sam Eggington earlier in the year.

Any word on TV platform?

It’s a good fight!

maverick23 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:08 Any word on TV platform?

It’s a good fight!

No, I hope it's a quick Sky job, if not DAZN in the UK if Sky don't pick it up.

Cus then we can get this in evening and then few hours later Canelo-Saunders, which is definitely gonna be DAZN and NOT Sky.

Think Smith can win this

maverick23 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:08 Any word on TV platform?

It’s a good fight!

MTK show I expect

Stewart wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 16:40

maverick23 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:08 Any word on TV platform?

It’s a good fight!

MTK show I expect

I could be wrong but I don’t think they’re involved with it. I saw an interview with Al Siesta a couple of days ago and he intimated that they had TV lined up.

Stewart wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 16:40

maverick23 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:08 Any word on TV platform?

It’s a good fight!

MTK show I expect

I thought Sky would have picked it up..

What's in this for Liam Smith?

garethhop wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 17:26 What's in this for Liam Smith?

An ass-whopping..

Seriously. I don’t know.

It must be some sort of eliminator..

Always nice to see rock-solid eastern Europe talents go in against other top names.

Smith will get done here

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:47 Think Smith can win this

You like Beefy or Kurbanov over-rated ?
I think Smith should be slight favourite, but in Russia tips it over to MK.
Good 50/50 fight anyway.

Smith is very solid euro level and has good experience. durable too. ive never been too impressed with kurby and he's taking a big step up after having a hard enough time vs russian domestic level opponents. if liam is up for this he has a great shot

liam has become a very soild fighter now i think , dont know much about the russian very good record, if he stops liam it will be a very a good win, liam is a top 12 fighter now i reckon

Liam seems to have a very good temperament.

Smith training with Manny Robles.

Still no news on this boadcast..

I hope DAZN just pick it up for the UK.

John Docherty's on the show against the guy who just beat Vijender Singh, Artysh Lopsan.

Rockytony67 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2021, 09:05 John Docherty's on the show against the guy who just beat Vijender Singh, Artysh Lopsan.

Decent comeback fight for Docherty.

It’d be a shame if it’s not on anywhere in the U.K - hopefully it’s picked up soon.

Card so far.

https://boxrec.com/en/event/826696

I thought it was a tought fight with no reward but,,,,

Get a win, and he'll no doubt be in prime position to fight for a vacant title in the next 12 months if the Charlo/Castano fight happens as expected and you get the inevitable fragmentation after.

Lose and he can still be added to cards in Liverpool as part of the Fowler, Cheeseman, Fowler, Fitzgerald and Conway set of fights I expect us to see a bit of on DAZN.

He didn't last long over in the States I note. and all the Smiths leaving Gallagher based on Joe's recent interview.

Fight Week

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Mar 2021, 06:44 Liam seems to have a very good temperament.

You dont become a reliable plumber without one

I havn't seen Kurbanov fight before but I see from his record he was dropped on way to a decision against Horvath who was toyed with by a green Eubank jr and also stopped by ten fight Williams and Buglioni, is there anything to look into there or just a bad performance?

hes better than that suggests but i still dont rate him too highly. rather basic and i think euro level at absolute tops. liam in with a very good shout here if he's up for it

far more experienced and prob a bit underrated, people got more excited about williams and eggy, but liam beat williams x2 and absolutely pounded sam, who then gave cheese a very tough fight