Retired boxer Paul Smith offered a different view, saying: “Never understood why loads in MMA touch gloves. Isn’t disrespectful not to and there’s always the chance of this happening.” ...

Liverpool boxer and the oldest brother of the famous Smith fighting family. He started boxing at the Rotunda club and won a Commonwealth Games silver medal as an amateur before turning professional.

Smith also downplayed Paul’s boxing career ... which has mostly seen him feasting on a former basketball player, older MMA fighters, and unknown boxers who have not competed for years.