Sniper ready to fire

‘SNIPER’ SAM SMITH is ready for the talking to finally stop when he returns to the ring on Friday night.

The former Pinewood Starr amateur is set for the biggest night of his professional career when he competes in the eight-man Ultimate Boxxer event at The O2 in London with £50,000 up for grabs for the winner.

Smith, 25, will be seen as an underdog for the tournament with his pro record of 5-1, having only originally been listed as a substitute for the event and especially given he has been drawn to face Birmingham’s unbeaten 6ft 6in Shakan Pitters (7-0) in the first round.

However, Smith believes the short three-round fights will improve his chances.

“I’ve got a tough draw but I feel pretty confident for it,” Sniper told The Wokingham Paper.

“I think this format does suit me. “You’ve just got to take one fight at a time and one round at a time because anything can happen, especially as it’s going to be high paced, high intensity.

“A lot of the fighters, especially fighters that have had 20 fights, they’re pretty much used to starting slower over 10-12 rounds.

“It’s three years since I made my pro debut but I’m still pretty fast and skilful and amateur style so it doesn’t bother me really.”

He added: “I think the most important thing is getting a good start.

“That first round, going out there, establishing your job, which is the main weapon for me, and then getting that first round then they’ve got to play catch-up.

“It’s only three rounds so by the time you blink, it’s over.”

Regardless, if Smith does emerge victorious, this will be by far the biggest show he has been involved in.

Sniper had hoped to fight for a title this year, but has been forced to wait six months between his last fight against Darren Snow and this Friday’s clash with Pitters due to some cancellations.

But he is now eyeing up a big 2019 after the added exposure that will come following the televised Ultimate Boxxer.

“In this sport you have so many things lined up and planned and then a lot of them don’t come through,” said Smith.

“But I got this opportunity back in July, that’s when I heard about it and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go into it and enter it and now look to go onto win that and then open up bigger doors for the future and then in 2019 start going in for titles.

“My manager and my coach Paddy (Fitzpatrick) has done a great job of getting me this opportunity. It’s definitely by far the biggest opportunity I’ve had.

“I know the Kirk Garvey fight was a big fight but this one is televised, it’s got a lot more backing behind it like Ricky Hatton and (Paulie) Malignaggi and you’ve got Channel 5 as well.

“I think it would definitely get your name out and your face out then with sponsorship as well and obviously being on the telly as well will be good.

“I’m looking forward to this, hopefully winning it and then looking forward to big things happening next year.”

Quarter-final draw: Joel McIntyre (17-2) v Darrel Church (7-2-1), Sam Horsfall (2-0) v Dec Spelman (12-1), Shakan Pitters (7-0)

v Sam Smith (5-1), Georgii Bacon (1-1) v Jordan Joseph (7-2-1).

The event will be free to watch on SPORTbible via Facebook from 8.15pm before the culmination on Channel 5Spike at 10pm.