Former world champion boxer Liam Smith has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent after an alleged attack on a night concierge at The Blade in Manchester.
The 38-year-old appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court on 14 September, a day after he was arrested following the incident on 13 September at the luxury apartment building on Silvercroft Street in Deansgate. He was released on bail after the hearing.
Smith is due to appear next at Manchester Crown Court on 19 October, when he will be asked to enter a plea.
What the charge means
The case puts Smith into the criminal courts at a time when he had been trying to extend his boxing career with a comeback fight. He was due to box Ilaru Kujala in Finland on 4 September, but withdrew a few days earlier because of a calf injury.
Smith held the WBO light-middleweight title from 2015 to 2016 and is best known for his high-profile fights with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jr. He beat Eubank Jr in their first fight in January 2023, eight months later.
The next stage now comes in October, when the case moves to Crown Court and Smith is expected to respond to the charge formally.
