Liam Smith Deserves Praise but British Boxing Is Still Searching for a Superstar

Brave. Courageous. Spirited. Valiant. All those words have been spotted on social media to describe Liam Smith's efforts against Saul Alvarez—and he earned every one of them.

Despite losing the fight in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Beefy won his battle for respect.

However, kind words won't offer much comfort in the immediate aftermath to a bout that saw Canelo celebrate Mexican independence weekend by claiming the WBO light middleweight title with a stoppage win.

The Englishman found out the hard way that there is a difference between being a world champion and being a world-class boxer.

Alvarez had faced plenty of criticism in the buildup over his chosen career path. Gennady Golovkin's name was prominent throughout the pre-fight talk, despite the Kazakh not actually being involved in the card.

Yet when it came down to the actual fighting, Canelo reminded everyone just how good he is.

Having knocked out Amir Khan with a devastating right hand in Round 6 of a catchweight contest in May, he produced a thudding left hook in Round 9 that had Smith gasping for air like a fish plucked out of water.

"

Canelo wins from a brutal body shot in round 9.pic.twitter.com/hWnlCi2FLT

— SportPlanet™ (@SportPlanet_) September 18, 2016"

Smith didn't see the punch coming, but the audience did. Not just in the split second before it landed under the Liverpudlian's ribs, but also in how the contest had unfolded since the opening bell.

Up against a foe who had never gone swimming in the deep end before, Alvarez was in control throughout, scoring two knockdowns before delivering the big finish.

A dejected but honest Smith admitted the better man won in his post-fight interview, per quotes obtained by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com:

"

He was too good and skillful today, and I was too slow. I did hit him with some jabs and right hands, but to be more competitive I needed better timing, and my timing was off. I think maybe if I waited a little longer and gotten more experience I would have been able to fight a guy like that better. I am very disappointed.

"

Smith's preparations for the biggest fight of his life were not helped by an injury picked up in training. A cut above his eye suffered in a sparring session with Kell Brook in August denied him the chance to get crucial rounds under his belt.

Yet no amount of sparring can truly prepare you for taking on someone like Canelo, who celebrated the landmark of 50 pro fights in style.

This was no John Thompson, whom Smith had stopped last year to claim the vacant belt. It was certainly not Jimmy Kelly or Predrag Radosevic, who'd been in the opposite corner for Smith's two successful defences of the WBO strap.

Having desperately wanted the opportunity to face a big-name opponent, the reality soon hit home. It was like trying to beat Usain Bolt in a sprint having previously won the egg-and-spoon race at school sports day.

Yet Smith showed more than enough to suggest he can come again at the top level.

The loss doesn't mean anything more than the end of his unbeaten record, and he will have learned more in losing to Alvarez than all his previous 24 bouts combined.

He plans to come back better than ever, via BoxNation on Twitter:

Canelo isn't expected to hang around at the 154-pound limit for long, according to Rafael.

The WBO title could soon become vacant again, opening the door for Smith to claim it back. He is unlikely to find the competition so stiff in his next outing—not unless he fancies a few rounds with Golovkin.

The 28-year-old could even face old sparring partner Brook—who lost to middleweight king Golovkin in London the previous week—down the line.

The pair each earned plenty of praise for their performances, even if the results weren't what they hoped for.

Smith dared to dream against Canelo. Brook believed he could find a way to puncture the air of invincibility surrounding Golovkin. The duo should be applauded for their willingness to take on such daunting challenges, but they did so hoping to earn more than just consoling pats on the back (plus big cheques).

Ricky Hatton knows exactly how they feel. A popular world champion who achieved so much as a fighter, The Hitman fell short in his two biggest tests, against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Eventually, those two modern greats who had Hatton's number faced each other. The same must happen with Alvarez and Golovkin, too.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Yet despite the recent setbacks, boxing in Britain is enjoying a boom period.

Television interest is high right now, plus social media helps to spread the word. There is an appetite for more, whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore enthusiast. Tickets and pay-per-view buys cost the same no matter how much you know about the sport.

However, what Britain really needs is a genuine superstar to emerge from the pack. A fighter who can slap his CV down and say he deserves to be in the conversation to head the pound-for-pound rankings.

Featherweight Carl Frampton is getting there, particularly after the Northern Irishman became a two-weight world champion with his points victory over Leo Santa Cruz earlier this year.

Heavyweight Tyson Fury would no doubt argue he is the best already, and he can state his case to be Britain's top dog in the rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on October 29.

Super middleweight James DeGale—who has won his last three bouts on foreign soil—is never shy on self promotion, while Anthony Joshua offers great hope for the future in the heavyweight division.

Yet the performances from Canelo and GGG against two British world champions served as timely reminders—while titles provide trinkets of success, statement wins truly define a boxer's career.