As negotiations to fight American legend Shane Mosley following a Twitter spat are now firmly behind Smith, Gallagher says the likes of Molina or Kelly were at the forefront of his mind before talks were recently sidetracked.
“Shane Mosley was not on our list of opponents for December,” Gallagher exclusively revealed to World Boxing News.
“There are a couple of kids we’ve looked at and Carlos Molina is one. As far as I am concerned that’s a good fight, or there’s Jimmy Kelly who is ranked number eight and he can have it if he wants it. There’s another name in there also.
“As I said, there are a few kids who can have it, but the Mosley fight I think could have been absolutely belting if it’s built right to headline in Liverpool next year. I think everyone would come out to watch Liam Smith against Shane Mosley if it happened in his hometown.”
Molina, 32, got back to winning ways in September after losing his title belt to Cornelius Bundrage eleven months earlier, whilst 23 year-old Kelly is currently undefeated in 16 contests and recently picked up a fringe WBO belt at 154 on the undercard of Smith’s coronation night against John Thompson.
As Kelly is also promoted by Frank Warren, the Mancunian may well be the current favourite – although Molina is undoubtedly the bigger name for what will be a massive event at Manchester Arena on December 19.
