Stephen Smith (boxer)

Last updated

Stephen Smith
StephenSwiftySmith.jpg
Smith in 2011
Statistics
Real nameStephen Francis Smith
Nickname(s)Swifty
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6+12 in (169 cm)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
Born (1985-07-22) 22 July 1985 (age 38)
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights32
Wins28
Wins by KO15
Losses4
Medal record
boxing
Representing Flag of England.svg  England [1]
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Melbourne Featherweight
Commonwealth Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2007 Liverpool Featherweight
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2005 Glasgow [2] Featherweight
European Amateur Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2006 Plovdiv Featherweight

Stephen Francis Smith (born 22 July 1985) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2019. [3] He challenged twice for a super-featherweight world championship; the IBF and WBA titles, both in 2016. At regional level he held multiple championships, including the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles and the British super-featherweight title between 2010 and 2013.

Contents

Amateur career

A distinguished amateur with over 150 fights, Smith represented Rotunda ABC and achieved fame at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne when he defeated Mehrullah Lassi in the final to win Commonwealth Gold. He also won a bronze medal at the 2006 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Plovdiv, losing in the semi-final of that tournament to Albert Selimov. He also won the ABA championships in 2005 and 2006, the Four Nations in 2006 and Gold at the 2007 Commonwealth Federation Championships held in Liverpool. [4]

At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, US he was defeated in the first round losing 20:14 to German Marcel Herfurth, in a tournament in which he had been expected to perform well. [5]

Professional career

Smith turned professional on 21 June 2008 and stopped Shaun Walton in the 3rd round at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. [6] Like his brother he signed for Warren's Sports Network [7] and has since had a further 11 fights, all wins.

Smith vs. Simpson

Smith became Commonwealth featherweight champion after he edged a points verdict over John Simpson in a tight scrap in Glasgow on 4 September 2010. A 114–116, 116–114, 116–112 decision was announced following a gruelling battle. During the re-match on 27 April 2011, Smith once again won on points with judges scores of 114–114, 115–114 and 118–112. However Simpson argued the judges scores were off target.

Smith vs. Selby

Smith fought the Welsh challenger Lee Selby on 17 September 2011, in a British and Commonwealth title defence at the Olympia, Liverpool where he was stopped in the 8th round by a Selby left hand.

Since losing to Selby, Smith fought Arpad Vass in the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany on 18 February 2012 winning via KO in Round 1. On 2 March 2012 Smith fought Ben Jones at The Troxy in London winning that fight via TKO in Round 1. On 1 June 2012 Smith fought for the third time in 2012 against Jose Luis Graterol at the York Hall winning again this time on points over 8 rounds.

Smith was due to fight on 8 March 2013 on the undercard of Yaqub Kareem v Paul Butler at the Liverpool Olympia however the fight was rescheduled to 12 April 2013. On 8 April 2013 Frank Warren confirmed that the event had been cancelled.

Smith fought for the first time in 13 months on 28 June 2013 against Eddie Nebitt of Belfast at the Liverpool Olympia and won via KO in Round 1. In his next fight on 17 August 2013 against Gary Buckland at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Smith won the British Super featherweight title after he KO'd Buckland in Round 5.

Promotions change

In October 2013 Smith announced he was breaking his contract with Frank Warren and signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom organisation. Warren took action through the courts and with the British Boxing Board of Control against Smith's contract termination.

On 31 October 2013 Smith was ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control to fight on 7 December 2013 in Liverpool under the Frank Warren promotion, Smith refused and relinquished his belt, the following day Smith was suspended by the BBBoC pending further investigation into his and Eddie Hearn's conduct in the switch.

On 15 November 2013 Smith was handed back his licence by the BBBoC and his first fight under Matchroom promotions was confirmed to be against Sergio Manuel Medina on the undercard of the Carl Froch v George Groves at Manchester's Phones 4u arena on 23 November 2013, Smith won the fight via KO in Round 8 and won the vacant WBC International Silver super featherweight title.

Smith vs. Sosa

On 12 November, 2016, Smith fought Jason Sosa. Sosa won the fight comfortably on all three scorecards, 117-110, 116-111 and 116-112. [8]

Smith vs. Vargas

On 17 August, 2017, Smith fought Francisco Vargas, who was ranked #2 by the WBC at super featherweight. Vargas won the fight in the ninth round via a technical decision. [9]

Professional boxing record

32 fights28 wins4 losses
By knockout151
By decision133
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32Win28–4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny PhillipsPTS623 Nov 2019 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
31Win27–4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaime QuinnPTS616 Jun 2019 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Manchester, England
30Win26–4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Des NewtonPTS610 May 2019 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, England
29Loss25–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Francisco Vargas TD9 (10)9 Dec 2017 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Smith lost by a technical decision after an accidental headbutt left him with his left ear almost detached [10]
28Win25–3 Flag of Hungary.svg Karoly GallovichKO1 (6)17 Jun 2017 Flag of Germany.svg Rittal Arena, Wetzlar, Germany
27Loss24–3 Flag of the United States.svg Jason Sosa UD1212 Nov 2016 Flag of Monaco.svg Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, MonacoFor WBA (Regular) super featherweight title
26Win24–2 Flag of Argentina.svg Daniel Brizuela TKO7 (12)29 May 2016 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Goodison Park, Liverpool, EnglandWon vacant WBC Silver super featherweight title
25Loss23–2 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg José Pedraza UD1216 Apr 2016 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.For IBF super featherweight title
24Win23–1 Flag of Italy.svg Devis BoschieroTKO6 (12)19 Sep 2015 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
23Win22–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barrington BrownPTS64 Apr 2015 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
22Win21–1 Flag of Poland.svg Jacek WylezolPTS628 Mar 2014 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield, England
21Win20–1 Flag of Mexico.svg Pedro NavarretePTS814 Jun 2014 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
20Win19–1 Flag of Argentina.svg Mauricio Javier MunozRTD8 (12)21 May 2014 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg First Direct Arena, Leeds, EnglandWon WBC Silver super featherweight title
19Win18–1 Flag of Argentina.svg Sergio Manuel MedinaKO8 (10)23 Nov 2013 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phones4u Arena, Manchester, EnglandWon vacant WBC International Silver super featherweight title
18Win17–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gary Buckland KO5 (12)17 Aug 2013 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, WalesWon British super featherweight title
17Win16–1 Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie NesbittKO1 (6)28 Jun 2013 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
16Win15–1 Flag of Venezuela.svg Jose Luis GraterolPTS81 Jun 2012 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg York Hall, London, England
15Win14–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben JonesTKO1 (12)2 Mar 2012 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg The Troxy, London, EnglandWon WBO Intercontinental super featherweight title
14Win13–1 Flag of Hungary.svg Arpad VassKO1 (8) 18 Feb 2012 Flag of Germany.svg Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
13Loss12–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lee Selby KO8 (12)17 Sep 2011 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, EnglandLost British featherweight title
12Win12–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Simpson MD1227 Apr 2011 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England Won British featherweight title
11Win11–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Simpson SD124 Sep 2010 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, ScotlandWon Commonwealth featherweight title
10Win10–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason ThomasTKO1 (8)12 Mar 2010 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
9Win9–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris RileyPTS45 Dec 2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
8Win8–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gavin ReidPTS830 Oct 2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
7Win7–0 Flag of Hungary.svg Zsolt NagyPTS622 May 2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg York Hall, London, England
6Win6–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve GethinRTD1 (4)28 Feb 2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England
5Win5–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony HannaPTS412 Dec 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England
4Win4–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sid RazakTKO3 (4)31 Oct 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, England
3Win3–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robin DeakinTKO2 (4)10 Oct 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
2Win2–0 Flag of Moldova.svg Wladimir BorovTKO1 (4)6 Sep 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MEN Arena, Manchester, England
1Win1–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Shaun WaltonKO3 (4)21 Jun 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England

Personal life

Stephen Smith is the younger brother of the boxer; Paul Smith, and the older brother of the boxers; Liam Smith, and Callum Smith. [11]

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References

  1. "SMITH Stephen Francis". Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. 2006.
  2. "4th Commonwealth Championships". Amateur Boxing. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. "Stephen 'Swifty' Smith Retires From Boxing". Boxing Social. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  4. ABA | Stephen Smith
  5. Liverpool Echo | Blow for Liverpool's Smith
  6. Stephen Smith Professional Record
  7. Smith to turn pro with Warren
  8. "Sosa vs Smith - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  9. "Vargas vs Smith - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. "Boxer Nearly Loses Ear. We Nearly Lose Our Lunch. (GRAPHIC)". HuffPost . 11 December 2017.
  11. "Biography at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

Stephen Smith - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live