Paul Smith opens up about his remarkable opportunity against Andre Ward

Paul Smith is realistic about his chances of defeating unbeaten WBA champion Andre Ward in the United States - but says it's a chance he couldn't turn down.

This is a life-changing opportunity. I’ve been offered the chance to fight the best fighter at my weight and I’d be a fool to say no.

I’ve had a little bit of stick but what do you want me to do? The people that say I’m stupid for taking the fight are the stupid ones who wouldn’t take it. I’ve got a different attitude and had a different upbringing to them.

This is a life-changing opportunity. I’ve been offered the chance to fight the best fighter at my weight and I’d be a fool to say no.

I’ve got the guts to fight anyone, and I’m proving that by going to Oakland to fight Ward.

It’s not even about guts, it’s about opportunity. It’s not like I’m an unbeaten fighter of 22-0 and I’m not ready yet or I’m risking my record – I couldn’t get any more experienced than I am, and I’m never going to get another chance at this. 

It’s a pay day that eclipses anything I’ve earned before. It’s not as much as I would have earned if I won the world title. It’s not millions but it feels like millions to me.  

Shock the world

I’d rather face Ward than George Groves or James DeGale again.

You have to take what you can, which is why I don’t understand people criticising me. What do you want me to do? Say no, stay at British level and fight Rocky Fielding? That’s an easier fight, a lesser paid fight, then my big chance is gone and won’t come back. I don’t want to sit around waiting for another opportunity.

Ward’s not the biggest puncher in the world – he’s not like Gennady Golovkin or Sergey Kovalev where I could get hurt! Either of us could get hurt in any fight. I’m not going in there with a dangerous destroyer but he’s a quality, technical fighter. But he hasn’t boxed in 28 months which is a long time.

If all I can do is get in there and be the best that I can be, the fittest I can be, the strongest I can be – which I will be – then I’ll give it everything I’ve got like I do in every fight.

I’ll ask a few questions of him but I’m not saying ‘I’ll knock Ward out’. I’ll try and shock the world. Who knows?

Smith fights Ward in Oakland, California, exclusively live on Sky Sports on June 20.