BoxRec

'Swifty', a former British and Commonwealth champion and a former two-time world title challenger, has been put at the top of a card promoted by Joe Gallagher and M22 Promotions, in association with Kieran Farrell, at the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.

The show, billed 'Back To The Future', is set to feature Danny Craven — who boxed on the undercard of Callum Smith's World Boxing Super Series quarter-final victory over Erik Skoglund back in September 2017 at what was then the ECHO Arena — as well as Sean Pendry, Reece MacMillan and Ben Thomas.

Smith will hope a big fight — maybe for the European title or a domestic showdown against Martin Joseph Ward — comes on the back of what will be his second fight in the space of six weeks.

Stephen Smith got his second win in the space of five weeks.

The 33-year-old made his comeback from over a year out last month.

Smith — who returned from a 17-month layoff in Nottingham against Des Newton — was looking to continue his resurgence at the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

‘Swifty’ did just that, as part of the maiden promotion of Joe Gallagher and M22 Promotions, in association with Kieran Farrell, when he came up against 93-fight veteran Jamie Quinn.

The referee, Darren Sarginson, oversaw the six-round contest in which Smith got the better of the durable Quinn by a margin of 60 points to 55.

And now the former two-time world title challenger, who was unleashing some crunching body shots and kept his shape and composure throughout, is keen to continue with the activity in the hope of forcing his way back to the upper echelons of the super-featherweight division.

“I had a comeback fight in Nottingham and it was a bit weird because I thought I’d feel a few nerves,” said Smith after the fight on Sunday. “But it turned into a bit of a joke and there were no nerves at all. This fight was a bit different. I knew the kid was durable and I wasn’t going to get anything out of stopping him. This was just about getting in there, getting back out and having Joe [Gallagher] and [brothers] Liam and Paul telling me that it was well better than last time.”

Details regarding Smith’s next fight — which is expected to be sooner rather than later — will be revealed in due course.

“At the end of the day, I’m happy. I’ve got out again, I’ve got another win, I’ve got more rounds under my belt and I’m just chipping away to get back to where I want to be. I’m still far away but I’m only going to get better with the likes of [fights like] that,” he continued.

“I’m not really in a place where I can be picky and choosy about where I fight next but I’ll fight again next month. If I fight next month, that’s three fights in three months and that’s a lot for me, considering I spent 18 months doing nothing and wasn’t even in the gym for 12 months.

“There’s nothing in concrete yet but I’ll fight again next month and once I’m back in and fighting regularly, it will be time to take the lead off and look at the options for a championship fight at either super-featherweight or lightweight, depending on how well I do the weight after having so long out.”

Full fight here with commentary from Jamal Niaz and Anthony Crolla.

Bit pointless Smith fighting at this level.
He’s proven European, fringe World-class.
I know he’s blowing off the cobwebs but still should be against better opposition.

If I was a Matchroom fighter having to pickup work on these types of shows I'd be seriously pissed off.

Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑20 Jun 2019, 01:49 If I was a Matchroom fighter having to pickup work on these types of shows I'd be seriously pissed off.

It’s JG who wants them more active - he’s going to have another of these shows soon.

Rumoured he’s fighting Martin Ward next so might have just been a run out to keep sharp.