History-making boxer Stephen Swift hangs up his gloves
Stephen Francis Smith (28-4, 15KOs), known to fans as 'Swifty', has hung up his gloves for the final time, aged 35. Stephen is the younger brother of Paul Smith and the older sibling of Liam and Callum – all four brothers made history by winning British titles each.
From Liverpool, Smith represented England in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, where he won gold. The same year, he scooped up a bronze medal in the European Amateur Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria – the only medal winner from England in the whole tournament.
Smith turned professional on June 21, 2008, stopping Shaun Walton in round three of his debut. His first test came in his 12th contest against John Simpson where he edged a points verdict in a very close fight in September 2010 to win the Commonwealth featherweight title. The rematch was also a tight contest, which Smith edged again on points.
His first defeat was at the hands of future world champion Lee Selby, stopped by the talented Welshman in round eight.
Smith became the British super-featherweight champion in August 2013 after he KO'd Gary Buckland in the fifth round at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
He then changed his promotions team from Frank Warren to Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, which ended up being dragged through the courts. The BBBofC ordered Smith to defend his Lonsdale belt on December 7, 2013, on a Frank Warren promotion, but the champion refused and relinquished his belt. The following day, his boxing licence was suspended.
Fortunately, the sticky situation was soon resolved and Smith made his debut appearance for Matchroom on November 15, 2013, defeating Sergio Manuel Medina in eight rounds to win the WBC International Silver super-welterweight title on the Froch-Groves undercard.
A further five victories in 2014 and 2015 rewarded 'Swifty' with his first world title shot to IBF super-featherweight titlist Jose Pedraza, who was unbeaten in 21 fights. Smith lost the contest on points over in Connecticut, but managed to secure another world title shot the same year in 2016. He went up against WBA World super-featherweight champion Jason Sosa in Monaco but was dropped in round two and struggled to get back into the contest, losing again on points.
Another loss followed the following year to Francisco Vargas in Vegas, and his last three contest were all six-round points wins over journeymen during 2019.
Long-term trainer Joe Gallagher tweeted: "Wishing @swiftysmith good luck in the next chapter of his career after he announced his retirement from boxing today."
Roll of Honour
150 Amateur Fights
European Junior Championships Bronze Medallist
ABA Champion 2005
ABA Champion 2006
Four Nations Gold Medallist
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
European Amateur Championships Bronze Medallist
Commonwealth Federation Champonships 2007 Gold Medallist
32 Professional Fights
Commonwealth Featherweight Champion
British Featherweight Champion
British Super-Featherweight Champion
WBO Inter-Continental Super-Featherweight Champion
WBC International Silver Super-Featherweight Champion
2x WBC Silver titles
2 x World title Challenger
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