Southpaw switch for Spartacus

STEVE Smith, the Bramford professional boxer who fights under the name of Spartacus, has been switching to a southpaw style in training as he prepares for Friday night's bout with Rob Stevenson of Hull at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

The 23-year-old light heavyweight Smith, unbeaten in his first four contests as a professional, said: "Stevenson is a tough journeyman type of fighter who has won half of his 50 fights. However, he's only been stopped twice, once by Brian Magee and once by the Russian European champion Ahmet Dotteu.

"To knock him out or stop him would be a big feather in may cap. Both Magee and Dotteu are southpaws. So I've been switching to the southpaw style in training in a bid to increase my chances of getting a particularly impressive victory."

Former Eastern Counties champion Smith is so confident that he will win that he has already booked a party for his fans when they return at the Liquid nightclub in Ipswich.

"If you're not confident in this game then you are nothing," he said. "There's no point pretending, Stevenson is the sort of fighter I have to beat if I'm going to go as far as I think I can in this sport.

"A knock-out or stoppage though would be a bit special against a rough, no-nonsense competitor."

Smith, managed by London boxing boss Tony Sims, will be in action again quickly if he is successful on Friday.

He could compete 15 days later on a dinner show at Chigwell against an opponent yet to be named.

Sims said: "Steve has made a very impressive start to his career and more and more top boxing people are taking note of him. Stevenson will be no pushover, but I'm confident of another big night for our man.

"He's been training better than ever. We have very big hopes for him and may soon be looking at a crack at the Southern Area title."

Tickets for the York Hall show are £25 which figure includes the coach trip to London from Ipswich.

They can be obtained by ringing 07801 580320.