Meanwhile, Quigley and Smith came head to head for the last time outside of the ring at the scales yesterday and it was a totally different story from the press conference 24 hours earlier.
A couple of hundred fans squeezed into the makeshift weighing room at the Jury’s Inn Hotel and were treated to a stare- down of monstrous proportions.
Smith was happy and smiling, joking with friends and surrounded by the rest of the boxers in action on the bill – other fighters from his promotional stable – while Quigley stepped out alone, earphones plugged in, with a stern look on his face.
Smith weighed in bang on the 12 stone limit, then Quigley tipped the scales 3/4lb under.
Then they came nose to nose for the mandatory stare-down and immediately touched heads; Quigley walking forward and Smith, grinning, retreating backwards. But it was the challenger who kept his thoughts to himself yesterday, while Quigley fired a parting comment that his own support lapped up.
“Don’t eat too much tonight,” he called out, “I’ll be feeding you leather tomorrow.”
Smith hardly registered the parting shot while Quigley spun away, waved to his supporters then made his exit.
First bell tonight is at 6.45pm although city favourite Joe Selkirk will not be opening the card as first planned, instead the massive ticket seller will be on after the main event.
Stephen Smith is the first Scouser in the ring at 7.35pm with Tony Bellew due on at 9pm.
All starting times are, however, subject to change.
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