Following an absence of seventeen months, former world super-featherweight title challenger Stephen Smith is scheduled to return to the ring.
The 34 year-old, who last fought in America in December 2017, is pencilled in for a six-rounder on this Friday’s NXTGEN card in Nottingham.
‘Swifty’ almost had his ear ripped off the last time he entered the squared circle in an ill-fated clash with Francisco Vargas at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Two-time world title challenger Smith needed plenty of stitches after suffering a horrific slice from an accidental Vargas headbutt.
Giving an update on his progress back in June, Smith was hoping to be back in action several months before now.
”It’s fine now, it’s healed completely. I was signed off medically until mid-April. But I wasn’t allowed to do anything but its healed now and I’m back to normal,” Smith exclusively told World Boxing News at the time.
“I’m fighting fit, I’ve just been on a run. I want to give it one last push and see how far I can get.
“Hopefully I’ll be back in the ring in September. I’d love to fight for the European title.
“I understand I need to get back to winning ways before I can start calling people out though.
WORLD TITLE
“I am hoping it will be third time lucky for the world title. It’s something I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid and I know, obviously I’m running out of time.
“I’ve got two kids and I am planning on having more. I want to get out the game with my faculties intact. To make money to have a good future with my kids.
“I want one more go. Get to that world level once more. It’s been a difficult weight division at one time there was Vasyl Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Miguel Berchelt, all with world titles.
“I want to give it one more go. I think the European title will be a good stepping stone to do that,” he concluded.
Young Mexican Giovanny Martinez, who’s suffered losses to Paul Hyland Jr. and Ryan Wheeler, is set to be in the opposite corner.
