By Altaf Mubarik

BoxingScene.com correspondent Altaf Mubarik caught up with British Super Middleweight Champion Paul Smith last week for an exclusive interview ahead of Paul’s showdown with fellow Liverpudlian Tony Dodson at the ECHO Arena, Liverpool on March the 12th.

Hi Paul, have you laid out any specific tactics for your fight against Tony Dodson?  What do you think are his strengths and weaknesses?

“His main weakness is his chin, followed by his heart.  He has others but I will do my best to expose them on fight night.  His mouth lets him down; he talks too much and is deluded.  According to him he is, ‘world class, smashed Carl Froch, beat Tony Quigley and is the biggest, baddest super-middleweight in Britain, if not the world.’  His words not mine!”

What are your plans for 2010 and 2011?

“To keep winning.  Defending my British Title, a belt I am proud to hold and to possibly win the European and a world title.  One step at a time though.”

Who have you been sparring with?

“My sparring is done with my brother Liam, Joe Selkirk, Tony Jeffries, Tony Bellew, Matthew Macklin and one or two others.”

Would you like to face Brian Magee for his European title if you successfully defend your Lonsdale Belt, and how do you think you would fair against him?

“I'd love the fight, of course.  I'd love to win the European title and he wants to win the Lonsdale belt so why not?  I think I would beat Brian Magee, his chin isn't the best and he is getting on now.  He looked good in his last fight but Larsen, with all due respect, had seen better days and was even older than Magee.

Would you like to give Tony Quigley a rematch somewhere down the line?

“I keep getting misquoted in interviews regarding Tony.  If I could give him any advice it would be to get down to middleweight because he could really do well.  He is strong, has a great chin, and very under-rated technically.  I don't think a re-match with me will happen though.  It doesn't make sense to my career path.”

How's the mood in the camp?

“Mood is great, like last time.  Quiet, uneventful and hard work!  I will be 100% for this fight and that is the key.”

Do you think you are anywhere near the finished article yet?  Are there any particular aspects of your game that you are working on?

“No, I am nowhere near finished article, but not many fighters at my age and level are!  I'm getting there, the hard work will pay off and I know I have the tools and the talent to do what I want to do in boxing.”

In the past, you have worked with the likes of Buddy McGirt.  How much of an impact did he have on your progress?

“Working with him was great, he is a great trainer and a great fella, funny and someone you want to be around but [current trainer] Georgie Vaughan is the boss now and the training is going from strength to strength.”

Frank Warren Promotions currently has an immense array of talent with some of the best prospects in the country.  Are there any particular prospects that really stand out for you?

“Obviously my brothers, Stephen and Liam.  I'm bound to be biased but the talent they have is exciting to see.  Stephen is a fast mover.  Liam will probably take a bit longer due to weight class and age (he is only 21).  Frankie Gavin is classy, has all the tools and is my pick of the Olympians, who themselves are frightening prospects.  Tony Bellew is also a great prospect, I don't think he will be a prospect for long with the titles opening up.”

Do you enjoy boxing at the Echo Arena?

“I love the arena, great atmosphere.  We had 8,000 fans in there for my last fight and 90% of them were there supporting myself which was a really humbling feeling.  Liverpool is a great sporting city, we get behind our own.”

Now let’s move on to a couple of light-hearted questions.   A friend of yours told me to ask you about 'pigeons'.  Apparently it's your new thing?

“I used to keep pigeons when I was younger but never had the time for them with school, gym, youth clubs and mates etc.  So when I moved house it was ideal for a loft and I have the time now.  So Bobby Rimmer gave me an old shed and some birds to start up again.  My Dad is my partner and we do ok, had 3 wins last year.  It's a great hobby, more relaxing than golf anyway!”

I've also heard that you've done some DJing in Liverpool, how did that come about?

“I used to DJ in some of the clubs in town.  I played the biggest ones in the city and loved it.  I love music, all genres and from any era but eventually it had to go, the late nights weren't gelling with the day job.”

Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans?

“Thank you as always for the support and well wishes.  I have a great fan base and I hope to make them all proud and reward them with some great wins over these next few years.”

Tickets for 'The Pride of Merseyside' are priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200 and are available from:

Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office: 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com

See Tickets: 0871 2200 260 or www.seetickets.com