Sheffield’s Rod Smith (7-1) has put pen to paper to sign a three-year contract with JE Promotions.
The middleweight prospect nicknamed ‘Razor’ inked a new deal with promoter Joe Elfidh after leaving Richard Poxon’s stable.
“I had a good year-and-a-half out and I think it was time for a change and to move on to a different trainer, different promoter,” Smith confirmed.
A connection was made via a friend that now sees Smith training with Michael White at the Fighting Fit Gym in Dinnington.
The 160-pounder once turned down a crack at professional football with Sheffield United to become a paid puncher instead, debuting back in 2012 but has only fought eight times in four years.
The Sheffield-born boxer’s only career loss came at the hands of Welshman Tom Doran in a final eliminator for the British middleweight title in November 2015, which was Smith’s last appearance in the square ring.
Both were unbeaten going into the 10-round contest – Doran 15-0, Smith 7-0 – for a crack at, then champion, Nicky Blackwell’s British crown.
Doran, a Prizefighter winner back in 2015, defeated Smith in the third-round with a well-timed body blow. He then got his shot at the Lonsdale belt in June last year but the belt had changed hands to Chris Eubank Jr, who triumphed in the fourth round of their showdown, thus handing Doran his first and only loss in his paid career.
Smith’s best scalp so far is a points win over two-time Commonwealth title contender Liam Cameron in his fifth fight in December 2013.
Smith spoke of his immediate plans for his career, “I just want to get back on it in a six-rounder straight off, then move on to eight, then look for Area titles at the end of the year.
“I’ll be meeting up with Joe at his Worksop show next weekend to sit down and talk, he’s got a plan in place for me.”
New manager Joe Elfidh added, “He’s a six-foot middleweight from Yorkshire with seven wins and one loss. The solitary defeat was to Tom Doran, who came in half a stone heavier at the weigh-in.
“He’s only 26 and been involved in two 10-rounders already. I’ve got high hopes for him but we’ll only move him on at the right time towards titles.”
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