Liam Smith joins Darren Barker on First Round TV to deliver one of the most honest and powerful interviews in British boxing. From the rough streets of Liverpool to world title glory, Liam tells the full story — no filters, no fluff.

In this deeply personal conversation, Liam opens up about:

🧒 Growing up in a boxing-mad household with the legendary Smith brothers

🥊 Sparring in the living room as kids — with ornaments flying!

🏆 Becoming Liverpool’s first world champion in 22 years

💔 The pain of politics in amateur boxing — and why he turned pro early

💥 Fighting Canelo Alvarez in Texas and why he was convinced he’d win

🧠 The mental toll of boxing and watching his brothers fight

💸 Being short-changed for the Canelo fight — and his biggest regrets

🛑 The truth about the Chris Eubank Jr. rematch

🇬🇧 Why the British Title still eats away at him — and the belt they never got to keep

⚽️ And how football nearly stole him away from boxing…

This is Liam Smith like you’ve never seen him before — reflective, open, and fiercely proud of his journey.

👊 Whether you're a hardcore fight fan or just love real human stories, this one hits hard.

00:00 – Intro: Darren meets Liam Smith in Liverpool

02:00 – Early boxing memories & ABA days

04:00 – “I never dreamt of boxing” – Liam’s surprise journey

06:00 – First titles, regrets, and the Eubank Jr. rematch

09:00 – Smith brothers' beginnings & sparring in the house

12:00 – Childhood stories & the Rotunda gym

15:00 – Pressure, parenting, and sibling support

18:00 – Amateur career: 78 fights, winning nationals

21:00 – Why Liam turned pro early (and skipped the Olympics)

24:00 – Football vs boxing: which one had his heart?

27:00 – Pro debut at Everton Park & early rise

30:00 – Commonwealth title: the first big belt

33:00 – Family pressure & winning the British title

36:00 – The one belt that got away

39:00 – Becoming world champion vs John Thompson

43:00 – Paul & Stephen’s title losses and brotherly bonds

46:00 – The Canelo Alvarez fight: mindset, build-up & reality

50:00 – Getting dropped in round 7: turning point

53:00 – How much he got paid (and underpaid) for Canelo

56:00 – Comparing Canelo to Jaime Munguia

59:00 – The Vegas mistake: jet lag, altitude, and prep gone wrong

1:05:00 – Liam Williams fights: weight miss, promotion drama

1:14:00 – Sparring styles, pressure fighting & finding his rhythm

1:22:00 – How close the brothers really are

1:30:00 – What drives Liam today – still hungry for more

1:38:00 – Darren & Liam reflect on respect, rivalry & brotherhood

11:00 – Their dad’s influence and support

12:00 – Did the brothers ever fight on the same show?

13:10 – The pressure of watching siblings box

14:10 – Amateur record: 78 fights, national titles, England call-up

15:40 – Politics in amateur boxing and Olympic dream missed

17:00 – Turning pro after ABA title win

18:20 – Early pro mindset: All in on boxing

19:10 – Football vs Boxing – where Liam’s passion truly was

20:00 – Pro debut at Everton Park, sharing the card with his brother

21:15 – Imagining his ring walk as a kid

22:30 – Winning the Commonwealth title – first big moment

24:00 – Family pressure & following in his brothers’ footsteps

25:20 – The one belt that still haunts him: the British title

27:00 – The Smith household holding three British titles at once

28:20 – World title fight build-up: John Thompson, sparring Soro

29:40 – Finding his style and strengths as a pro fighter

31:00 – The fight itself: Liam Smith vs John Thompson

32:00 – The moment he became world champion

33:30 – Paul & Stephen’s tough world title losses

35:00 – Facing Canelo Alvarez – mindset going in

36:15 – What convinced him he could beat Canelo

37:30 – Underpaid for the fight & contract frustrations

39:00 – What Canelo did in round 7 – turning point

40:30 – How Liam views the fight now, with respect

41:30 – Canelo’s relaxed style, defense & pressure

43:00 – Comparing Canelo & Munguia

44:20 – Fight build-up challenges before Munguia bout

45:30 – What went wrong in Vegas – altitude, jet lag

47:00 – The only time Liam looked at the round card during a fight

48:30 – Munguia’s relentless pressure and Liam’s response

50:00 – Reflections on that loss: frustration, honesty

51:00 – Trying to get another world title shot

52:00 – The Liam Williams fights: weight miss, arguments with Frank Warren

53:30 – Why he didn’t get the British belt outright

55:00 – Frustrations with boxing politics & belt rules

56:30 – Wrapping up: legacy, love for the sport, and what’s next