Free boxing betting tips: Liam Smith v Liam Williams preview

Rematches so often threaten to deliver a classic encounter, but have an annoying habit of falling well short of pre-fight expectations.

However, I do not see that being the case when Liverpool's Liam Smith clashes with bitter Welsh rival Liam Williams in Newcastle on Satuday night.

Billed as an eliminator for the WBO world super-welterweight title currently held by Miguel Cotto, who will retire next month, there is no doubt that personal pride holds centre stage for these two warriors after an epic first encounter in April.

It went the way of Smith (25-1-1, 14KOs) after Williams was forced to retire at the end of the ninth round after suffering a horrific double laceration to his right eyelid.

Smith himself was also badly cut early on and the former world champion - who lost the title to Saul Alvarez just over a year ago - looked to be losing after eight rounds with plenty to do to try to change the outcome.

But then came a clash of heads in the ninth that gave the Williams corner no other option but to pull their man out.

Williams claimed it was an intentional headbutt by Smith. The Scouser believed he was starting to dominate the fight and the stoppage was coming anyway.

All in all it was a wholly unsatisfactory way to end such a hard-fought contest, where nothing had been left in the dressing rooms and certainly for Williams it is an incident that still rankles.

"Heads had been bumping all night and you train to get your head into the right place so that if, and when, that happens you incur minimal damage," he said.

"But I definitely felt the final butt was deliberate. Smith feinted with the jab to pave the way for his nut. It was no accident.

"One million per cent Smith should have been disqualified. I felt very let down by the referee (Terry O’Connor). I feel he robbed me of my unbeaten record and chance to become world champion. I can't see how he possibly missed such a blatant butt."

But now we are going to be able to enjoy it all over again and I don't see anything but another slugfest between these two seemingly evenly-matched fighters.

I say evenly-matched, but the layers have made 25-year-old Williams (16-1-1, 11KOs) the slight favourite. He's odds-on across the board with 4/5 the best you will get.

Smith, 29, is as big as 13/10 with Marathon Bet and I'm certain that will be snapped up long before the first bell.

The layers are obviously basing the odds on the first meeting, much of which Williams bossed, so you can't blame them for siding with the Welshman.

But I am convinced Smith was nowhere near 100 per cent in that April clash and I expect him to be much better this weekend - as he does himself.

"I don’t think you had to be good fighter to beat me in the first six rounds of our first fight. I was slow, flat and sluggish. I can never be that bad again," he said.

"What I did to try and make weight during fight week killed me. It was nothing to do with having a slow start by gameplan. Williams had a good start and I couldn't have been worse. There are 10 fighters in Britain who could have probably outboxed me on that night.

"I am right up for the rematch and that is why we are here now. As soon as I start better, Liam won’t get his own way. It is only to go one way and he is going to crumble earlier than he did last time. I am stronger than him and I've more heart."

Apart from a four-rounder with unknown Spaniard Marian Cazacu, the first Williams fight was Smith's first since he was dethroned as WBO world champion by Alvarez, who forced a ninth-round stoppage in Arlington, Texas.

Smith's camp was obviously not a happy one to face Williams as he failed to make weight and I would suspect he found it hard to properly motivate himself after a world-title fight - no disrespect to Williams, it's just human nature.

I also think that Smith perhaps took Williams too lightly, even though the Welshman is a British and Commonwealth champion.

But second time round that will not be the case and while there is sure to be improvement from Smith, can you say the same is possible for Williams at this early stage of his career?

Was that Williams at his very best in their first fight? If it was, then he still fell short - regardless of the circumstances - and that could have a big psychological effect.

Only the pair of them will really know how much more there is to come.

But personally, I would rather be Smith knowing that I was not at my best in the first fight but still had enough to get the job done, rather than Williams who arguably produced a career-best display for eight rounds but still failed to get the win.

I think we will see a similar pattern to the first fight with Williams looking to make a fast start and impose himself.

Smith likes to walk his opponents down with hands held high, before looking to do his most effective work on the inside.

On Saturday night I am sure trainer Joe Gallagher will want him to use his jab more and not take so many punches as he looks to work his way in.

Williams was outboxing Smith for long spells back in April and will look to follow a similar gameplan, using his excellent jab and strong right hooks.

But one thing that was clearly apparent in the first meeting was that he visibly showed fatigue in the second part of the contest so he will need to pace himself better having never gone the full 12 rounds, whereas Smith has done twice.

You could make solid arguments for either one of them having their arm raised at the end of the fight, but I'm going for Smith's greater experience to prevail.

A former British, Commonwealth and WBO intercontinental champion, Beefy - one of four fighting brothers - landed the biggest prize in October 2015 when he stopped American John Thompson in seven.

Successful defences came against Jimmy Kelly (TKO 7) and Predrag Radosevic (KO 2) before he came unstuck against world-class operator Alvarez.

He will know what was amiss in that first fight and because of the experience he has racked up, he and is camp will know how to put it right.

It will be by no means an easy task for him, but Smith relishes a full-blooded scrap and I feel there is little danger that Williams will not oblige him with one.

I think once again that Smith will be the stronger in the crucial second half of the fight so I am taking the 5/1 being offered for him to win between rounds 7-12 by both Ladbrokes and Coral.

Where to watch: BoxNation/BT Sport

Recommended bet

2pts Liam Smith to win between rounds 7-12 at 5/1

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Posted at 1000 GMT on 09/11/17.