Stephen Smith (boxer)

Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith
	Smith in 2011
Born	Stephen Francis Smith; 22 July 1985 (age 39); Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Other names	Swifty
	Statistics
Weight(s)	Featherweight; Super-featherweight; Light-welterweight;
Height	5 ft 6+1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Reach	66 in (168 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
	Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	28
Wins by KO	15
Losses	4
boxing
Representing England
Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Championships
European Amateur Championships

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.

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 fights	28 wins	4 losses
By knockout	15	1
By decision	13	3

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
32	Win	28–4	Jonny Phillips	PTS	6	23 Nov 2019	Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
31	Win	27–4	Jaime Quinn	PTS	6	16 Jun 2019	Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Manchester, England
30	Win	26–4	Des Newton	PTS	6	10 May 2019	Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, England
29	Loss	25–4	Francisco Vargas	TD	9 (10)	9 Dec 2017	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]
28	Win	25–3	Karoly Gallovich	KO	1 (6)	17 Jun 2017	Rittal Arena, Wetzlar, Germany
27	Loss	24–3	Jason Sosa	UD	12	12 Nov 2016	Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco	For WBA (Regular) super featherweight title
26	Win	24–2	Daniel Brizuela	TKO	7 (12)	29 May 2016	Goodison Park, Liverpool, England	Won vacant WBC Silver super featherweight title
25	Loss	23–2	José Pedraza	UD	12	16 Apr 2016	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.	For IBF super featherweight title
24	Win	23–1	Devis Boschiero	TKO	6 (12)	19 Sep 2015	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
23	Win	22–1	Barrington Brown	PTS	6	4 Apr 2015	Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
22	Win	21–1	Jacek Wylezol	PTS	6	28 Mar 2014	Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield, England
21	Win	20–1	Pedro Navarrete	PTS	8	14 Jun 2014	Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
20	Win	19–1	Mauricio Javier Munoz	RTD	8 (12)	21 May 2014	First Direct Arena, Leeds, England	Won WBC Silver super featherweight title
19	Win	18–1	Sergio Manuel Medina	KO	8 (10)	23 Nov 2013	Phones4u Arena, Manchester, England	Won vacant WBC International Silver super featherweight title
18	Win	17–1	Gary Buckland	KO	5 (12)	17 Aug 2013	Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales	Won British super featherweight title
17	Win	16–1	Eddie Nesbitt	KO	1 (6)	28 Jun 2013	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
16	Win	15–1	Jose Luis Graterol	PTS	8	1 Jun 2012	York Hall, London, England
15	Win	14–1	Ben Jones	TKO	1 (12)	2 Mar 2012	The Troxy, London, England	Won WBO Intercontinental super featherweight title
14	Win	13–1	Arpad Vass	KO	1 (8)	18 Feb 2012	Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
13	Loss	12–1	Lee Selby	KO	8 (12)	17 Sep 2011	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England	Lost British featherweight title
12	Win	12–0	John Simpson	MD	12	27 Apr 2011	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England	Won British featherweight title
11	Win	11–0	John Simpson	SD	12	4 Sep 2010	Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland	Won Commonwealth featherweight title
10	Win	10–0	Jason Thomas	TKO	1 (8)	12 Mar 2010	Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
9	Win	9–0	Chris Riley	PTS	4	5 Dec 2009	Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
8	Win	8–0	Gavin Reid	PTS	8	30 Oct 2009	Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
7	Win	7–0	Zsolt Nagy	PTS	6	22 May 2009	York Hall, London, England
6	Win	6–0	Steve Gethin	RTD	1 (4)	28 Feb 2009	National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England
5	Win	5–0	Anthony Hanna	PTS	4	12 Dec 2008	Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England
4	Win	4–0	Sid Razak	TKO	3 (4)	31 Oct 2008	Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, England
3	Win	3–0	Robin Deakin	TKO	2 (4)	10 Oct 2008	Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
2	Win	2–0	Wladimir Borov	TKO	1 (4)	6 Sep 2008	MEN Arena, Manchester, England
1	Win	1–0	Shaun Walton	KO	3 (4)	21 Jun 2008	National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England