Liam Smith signs with Matchroom Boxing for a second tour

Former junior middleweight titleholder Liam Smith has signed with Matchroom Boxing, the promoter announced Wednesday.

In a media release, Matchroom said a fight announcement is soon to follow for Smith, 33-4-1 (20 KOs), now fighting at middleweight and ranked No. 10 by the WBC in the division.

The 36-year-old Smith, a Merseyside, UK, native who now resides in Liverpool, has been out of the ring for almost 18 months, most recently falling to Chris Eubank Jnr by 10th-round stoppage in September 2023. The fight was an immediate rematch of their January 2023 bout, in which Smith stopped Eubank in four.

Smith’s signing marks his second tour with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. His previous three fights had come under the banner of Boxxer, after Smith’s first Matchroom contract lapsed in April 2022.

“I’m delighted to be back working with Eddie and Frank Smith,” he said.

“I have always had a great relationship with Matchroom, where they’ve promoted my brothers and, of course, myself a few years back. It’s great to re-sign with them, and now we’re looking forward to some huge fights together in 2025.”

Liam – or “Beefy” – is one of four brothers from the Merseyside fighting Smith family, which includes Paul, Stephen and Callum. The junior middleweight strap won by Liam in a stoppage of Apollo Thompson in 2015 is one of several world titles collected by the Smiths.

Noting the recent announcement of a Eubank-Conor Benn matchup set for April 26 in London, Smith may already be tipping his hand about his immediate intentions.

“Obviously, I will be keeping a very close eye on the big fight coming up in my division with Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn,” Smith said.

“But generally speaking I’m very excited about what the future holds for me, especially with Eddie so closely involved with the Riyadh Season shows and some of the biggest events in the sport.”

Said Hearn: “Liam certainly needs no introduction. The desire inside him burns brighter than ever before, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in some huge fights. …

“We will announce his return date soon.”