Wednesday 29 June 2016 11:28, UK
Liam Smith must make it clear-cut against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez if he is to be awarded a points decision, fears trainer Joe Gallagher.
Liverpool's WBO world super-welterweight champion (23-0-1-KO13) travels to Las Vegas to take on the Mexican (47-1-1-KO33) in Las Vegas on September 17 and will hear the opening bell as a heavy underdog.
However, while Gallagher admits he is concerned by the judges' scoring of Alvarez's latest victory - a sixth-round stoppage of Amir Khan, he retains faith that 'Beefy' can pull off "the upset of the year".
Everybody thought Amir Khan won some of the early rounds against Canelo but the judges favoured Canelo.
Gallagher told Sky Sports: "Liam's numbers have come in and he's hit the jackpot. He's ready to go to Las Vegas as a gambler, roll the dice and beat Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez; one of the most feared fighters in the world. It's a huge opportunity.
"It was only a few years ago that Liam was going to go and spar Canelo. [Matchmaker] Robert Diaz asked me if Liam could spar him but Liam had hurt his hand. It's weird how the wheels of the world work.
"They're taking Liam Smith as a serious threat and they need to. Liam is going to be fully motivated. He was after a Miguel Cotto or Kell Brook fight but he's got the big one in Canelo. Liam has his destiny in his own hands.
"People are quick to write him off but they're not too quick to give him praise as one of Britain's best world champions. It's a great opportunity for Liam to go over there and show people that.
"Liam Smith can definitely win this fight. Whether they give it to him is another matter. You've got to win and win well to get the decision. Everybody thought Amir Khan won some of the early rounds against Canelo but the judges favoured Canelo and one judge I don't think even gave Khan a round.
"At the end of the day, we've got to go there and do the best we can do and make it competitive. We've got to come up with a game plan to pull off the upset of the year."
Alvarez is returning to 154lbs, where he previously held the WBC and WBA crowns, having beaten Miguel Cotto to the WBC middleweight title in November 2015.
