Smith moves up in weight following debut defeat
Essex boxing prospect, Jordan Smith (0-1), has made several changes following his surprise debut loss to journeyman Brett Fidoe 4(3)-13-2 at the Camden Centre, Kings Cross on November 21.
The 20-year-old standing at 5ft 10” tall has stepped up to featherweight, changed gyms, and enlisted a strength and conditioning coach to assist with the transition in divisions.
Smith’s first professional opponent and victor, Brett Fidoe scored yet another win over a debutant last weekend beating Alex Sutton at City Hall in Hull, becoming the third debutant to be scalped on his ever-improving record. The 23-year-old from Staffordshire, ranked 10th in the British super-flyweight division, has now won twice in his last three fights, stopping both victims inside four rounds. Fidoe is called 'Brett the Threat' for very good reason.
Smith said of Fidoe, “He was tougher than the record suggested, he had a lot of losses but I didn’t really see who he had lost against. I saw a video on YouTube of him and he didn’t look that good but it was quite an old fight.”
Fidoe had been in with a number of prospects since turning pro in 2012 such as unbeaten prospects Haroon Khan, Louis Norman and Anthony Smith. He can also boast taking former Commonwealth super-flyweight champion, Don Broadhurst the distance for the vacant BBBofC Midlands Area title at Villa Park in March this year, nicking a couple of rounds in the process, losing 94-98 on points.
He went on to say, “I was very disappointed, it wasn’t how I normally perform. My pro debut – it was a big step up for me turning pro and it just threw me a bit. I don’t normally get nerves but it was my pro debut so it’s different. I did go through a lot of opponent changes and I ended up going in against an experienced English fighter.”
Smith has since made many changes in order to give himself the best opportunity of getting onto a winning streak, “I’m looking to move up in weight to about 9st 4lbs for the next fight on 21st February. I’m hitting harder now, I’m looking to move gyms in the New Year, I’ve changed a few things like my nutrition, my technique in my punches to get more power. I’ve been training in strength and conditioning three times a week.” On his next fight, Smith commented, “Still looking at February 21st but it all depends on getting a new trainer. I’m fit to fight again but my Manager Greg (Steene) and Mo (Prior) have said that they will only put me in if I’m completely ready and they don’t want to rush things.”
Smith, originally hailing from Ipswich, continued, “I’ll keep my training up over the Christmas break, my last S&C session is on Wednesday, I’ll keep up my running, although I have cut back on that a bit in order to work on my strength and technique and sitting down on my punches.” Jordan Smith is expected to fight at Harrow Leisure Centre on February 21st in his second professional fight, this time at featherweight, on a Mark Prior Promotions show.
The 5ft 10” tall featherweight concluded with the fight he is looking forward to watching the most next year, “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring and back to winning ways. I met Dillian Whyte on my debut and I'm looking forward to watching how Anthony Joshua gets on with Kevin Johnson, it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on with a better opponent and in the later rounds, if it actually gets that far.”
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Jordan Smith would like to thank his sponsors, TR Sports Marketing and PR Manager Tim Rickson.
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