Stephen Smith (boxer)


Stephen Francis Smith is a British professional boxer. He challenged once for the IBF super featherweight title and once for the WBA super featherweight title in 2016, and held the WBC Silver super featherweight title twice between 2014 and 2016. At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles between 2010 and 2011 and the British super featherweight title in 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.
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.

Professional career

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Win27–4 Jamie QuinnPTS616 Jun 2019Manchester, England.png" />
30Win26–4 Des NewtonPTS610 May 2019Nottingham, England.png" />
29Loss25–4 Francisco VargasTD9 9 Dec 2017Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S..png" />Smith lost by a technical decision after an accidental headbutt left him with his left ear almost detached
28Win25–3 Karoly GallovichKO1 17 Jun 2017 Rittal Arena, Wetzlar, Germany
27Loss24–3 Jason SosaUD1212 Nov 2016Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.png" />For WBA super featherweight title
26Win24–2 Daniel BrizuelaTKO7 29 May 2016Won vacant WBC Silver super featherweight title
25Loss23–2 José PedrazaUD1216 Apr 2016 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.For IBF super featherweight title
24Win23–1 Devis BoschieroTKO6 19 Sep 2015 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
23Win22–1 Barrington BrownPTS64 Apr 2015Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England.png" />
22Win21–1 Jacek WylezolPTS628 Mar 2014Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield, England.png" />
21Win20–1 Pedro NavarretePTS814 Jun 2014Echo Arena, Liverpool, England.png" />
20Win19–1 Mauricio Javier MunozRTD8 21 May 2014First Direct Arena, Leeds, England.png" />Won WBC Silver super featherweight title
19Win18–1 Sergio Manuel MedinaKO8 23 Nov 2013Phones4u Arena, Manchester, England.png" />Won vacant WBC International Silver super featherweight title
18Win17–1 Gary BucklandKO5 17 Aug 2013Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales.png" />
17Win16–1 Eddie NesbittKO1 28 Jun 2013
16Win15–1 Jose Luis GraterolPTS81 Jun 2012
15Win14–1 Ben JonesTKO1 2 Mar 2012
14Win13–1 Arpad VassKO1 18 Feb 2012
13Loss12–1 Lee SelbyKO8 17 Sep 2011
12Win12–0 John SimpsonMD1227 Apr 2011 Won British featherweight title
11Win11–0 John SimpsonSD124 Sep 2010Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland.png" />Won Commonwealth featherweight title
10Win10–0 Jason ThomasTKO1 12 Mar 2010
9Win9–0 Chris RileyPTS45 Dec 2009Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England.png" />
8Win8–0 Gavin ReidPTS830 Oct 2009
7Win7–0 Zsolt NagyPTS622 May 2009
6Win6–0 Steve GethinRTD1 28 Feb 2009
5Win5–0 Anthony HannaPTS412 Dec 2008Leisure Centre, Widnes, England.png" />
4Win4–0 Sid RazakTKO3 31 Oct 2008Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, England.png" />
3Win3–0 Robin DeakinTKO2 10 Oct 2008Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England.png" />
2Win2–0 Wladimir BorovTKO1 6 Sep 2008MEN Arena, Manchester, England.png" />
1Win1–0 Shaun WaltonKO3 21 Jun 2008

Genealogical information

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