Liam Smith

Alvarez is the biggest name in boxing. I'm looking forward to pitting my wits against one of the best in the sport.

Before British title fights, I've played football on a Saturday before; it's silly as it is.

When I was 17 or 18, I realised I could do something with boxing.

When I was fighting at a weekend, I would be in when my friends were out. I never had time to go out and go off the rails.

My mum says part of the reason we moved house, it was a rough area at the time, was down to that - they wanted to help me.

If you ask anyone who my mum's blue-eyed boy is, they will say it is me.

Now Mayweather has retired, Alavrez is the biggest name in boxing, and I'm looking forward to pitting my wits against him.

People say I'm not world level, but I haven't fought at that class yet, so you can't say that until I have.

I don't need any more motivation. I'm fighting Canelo Alvarez. If that can't get me motivated, then I'm in the wrong sport.

I don't want to say 'grateful.' I don't want to sound like I'm just coming for the opportunity and to say I boxed in front of this many people at AT&T Stadium. I'm coming there to win and bring the title back home.

I need that fear factor in training; otherwise, I might get beat by someone I should never lose against, all because I couldn't get up in the morning.

I'm one win away from being a superstar.

I wanted to fight guys like Shane Moseley, Miguel Cotto, and Alvarez.

I will look for the knockout because that's the way I fight.

I'm so proud, and it feels brilliant to be a world champion.

I won't watch that Amir fight from now until I fight Alvarez. I'm not a blown up 147 or a Miguel Cotto. I'm a big 154 lb., and I'm coming of age and coming to win.

I've been wanting to spar Miguel Cotto over in L.A., and that will be priceless, going over there, getting some rounds with such a world class fighter.

The ones doing that, counting me out, are going to look silly.

If you put a camera on the wall, you would laugh at some of the fights me and my brothers had.

I can be the best light-middleweight in the world.

I don't want to emulate anyone.

I've been in the States and fought before. When I'm in that changing room, I'll feel as if I've been in that situation before. Obviously I'm going to have to deal on the biggest stage, and it's the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, but it doesn't faze me.

I'm expecting the best John Thompson. I'd be a fool to expect anything less.

He's fighting for the world title, so we're prepared for the best John Thompson.

I'm a humble guy, I'm pretty down to earth.

People said I didn't deserve to be World Champion, but I think I've proved it.

Without being disrespectful to Jimmy Kelly, I'd rather fight Shane Mosley than Jimmy Kelly.

I didn't become world champion to fight Jimmy Kelly.

I'm getting criticism on social media, saying, 'Ah, you ducked Shane Mosley.' I've never ducked anyone in my life. They need to look into it a bit more.

If you ask my promoters and managers, they will say I've never knocked back an opponent in my life.

Canelo's going to have his moments. I'm not saying he's not. But I'm going to have my moments. It will come down to who can finish off their moments and finish the fight the best.

I've seen Thompson before, as I keep my eye on everyone in the division, as I might one day fight them.

I've been laughing with my brothers about it. Paul and Stephen both won the British title before me, but I'm going to be the first world champion in the family.

We used tea towels for gloves until we got proper ones and were always breaking our mum's ornaments. She'd come home and find us all sat in our boxer shorts, out of breath and our skin red raw. She hated it.

Growing up with my brothers all boxing has stood me in good stead for nights like these. You should have seen some the fights we used to have in our front room.

From my point of view, I am the underdog going into this fight. I'm not saying I'm not. But I'm the underdog because I haven't fought at that level yet against anyone of Canelo's level.

I'm not going to say I'm not ready for a fighter like Canelo Alvarez.

I'm world champion, so if I'm not ready for another fighter at 154, I don't deserve to be world champion. That's the way I look at it and what I firmly believe.

Once I will arrive in the ring, I'm going to make the most of this fight because this fight I will remember for the rest of my life. From my point of view, this night is going to be remembered by the British people. Not from the American people as much, but from the British fans here who will watch me beat Canelo Alvarez.

I'm not stupid. I know on paper I'm the B-side of this fight. Canelo's the big name.

It's always Canelo, and it's Mexican Independence Day, so I know that. But I am the champion, and just looking back on that, that is one reason why I hope they'll respect that I'm champion and be fair.

Give me the respect I deserve.

Canelo's the big name, but I am the champion going in... I took this fight. I'm not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I've got a title to lose.

I'll go for the knockout, and if we have to go 12 rounds, then I'll trust the judges to do their best work, and I will get the victory if I deserve it.

Canelo isn't a full light-middleweight like I am, and that's to my advantage.

I don't care who's in front of me; nobody is going to stop me from winning the world title.

I don't want to be chasing a big, awkward southpaw around the ring. I want a fight that people will enjoy.

I made my debut on October 10, 2008, so it'll be seven years to the day that I could become world champion. That's a massive night to be crowned.

Thompson is a typical American: wide feet, good jab; he'll try to have a fight.

Everyone breeds success off each other.