British Scene Prospect Watch: Stephen Smith

Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in the UK.

Stephen Smith

‘Swifty’ Smith is still at the beginner stage of his career but has looked exceptional so far. He’s following in the footsteps of his big brother, Contender star, Paul. He boxes in the featherweight division and is currently 7-0 with 5 stoppages.

The Positives:

He’s the kind of boxer that’s never out of the gym; he loves the sport and is a crowd pleaser. He’s already established a good following, which isn’t surprising considering his all action style; he loves to tear into his opponents from the first bell and throws every punch with serious intent. He’s already shown in his short career that he carries knockout power in both hands.

The Negatives:

He doesn’t use his skills as much as he should; he was a very good amateur but has developed a much more aggressive style in the pro ranks. I like that in a boxer but he shouldn’t forget that he can use his jab as a way of setting up the big attacks. The lack of a jab sometimes results in him smothering his work and he can be caught coming in at times when he shouldn’t be.

The Future:

He should just continue learning; he’s probably two years off being ready for a British title fight and should concentrate on working his way up the rankings.

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Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst

British Scene Season Preview British Scene Season Preview Part One; Simpson vs Truscott, O'Donnell vs Glover, Davis vs Napa, Fury vs McDermott & Olusegun vs Daws British Scene Season Preview Part Two: Macklin vs Asikainen, Thaxton vs Murray, Sexton vs Rogan & Booth vs Hunter