BRITISH super-middleweight champion Tony Quigley believes he’s got challenger Paul Smith running scared ahead of tomorrow’s derby day title fight at the ECHO Arena. Both fighters had to be physically restrained and separated yesterday when tensions boiled over at the official final press conference. The pair came head-to-head for a photograph in the shadows of the arena and Smith opened up a volley of trash talk before Quigley responded by stepping forward. It was a million miles away from the amicable scenes inside Anfield’s trophy room six weeks ago. The love is definitely gone. Both rival camps were forced to intervene yesterday to stop the fight starting 48 hours early, but smiling Quigley said afterwards: “He doesn’t scare me. His bottle has gone; again. “He kept asking me if I was going to run. He’s terrified of me not standing and trading with him because he knows that’s the only hope he has of winning. “He’s just scared of me boxing his head off because he knows that if I start boxing in there he won’t be able to live with me. “But all that bravado and carrying on just told me one thing, that he’s scared. “In the first press conference he bottled up and didn’t really say anything but he’s all brave now, with his family and boys with him. “He wants me to stand there while he throws his punches but I am a clever fighter and I will play to my strengths, not his.” He added: “But I’m not afraid of Paul Smith and maybe I will stand and trade with him, beat him at his own game.” Smith, speaking during the press conference, said: “I have had no problems motivating myself for this fight. I am fighting in my home city against a local rival and that is motivation in itself. “I have always said that if you give me 12 weeks notice for a fight I will be fine and this is my chance to prove it. “It 100% doesn’t matter what Quigley brings to the ring as I know I will beat him. I will win this fight.” Quigley, 25, has not fought since beating Tony Dodson at the ECHO Arena in March after suffering from a shoulder injury. But he has been training for this fight, remarkably only his 15th, for two and half months. He added: “It has been hell and those past few weeks have seemed like a lifetime. “I have been to north Wales for a bit of hill running – my dad has a caravan there. I also went to France and sparred with some top boxers. “I have had to change my training to cope with 12- round fights but I feel good and confident.” | 
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