STEPHEN SMITH DEFENDS TITLE IN LIVERPOOL

Stephen Smith returns to his home city on Friday 11th May to make the first defence of his WBO Intercontinental super-featherweight title against tough Spaniard Francisco Urena at the Liverpool Olympia.

The 26-year-old is determined to stay on track for a rematch with Lee Selby, who inflicted the first loss on Smith's record last September to also take the Scouser’s British and Commonwealth titles in one of the biggest domestic upsets of 2011.

'Swifty' roared back with back-to-back first round wins over Arpad Vass in February and Ben Jones last month to win the WBO interim belt, and he’ll be keeping an eye on rival Selby who defends his titles two weeks later in Newport.

And the former Rotunda ABC amateur star is aiming to make it a hat-trick of first rounders against Urena, who has never been stopped in 21 fights. Smith said: “I’m looking forward to returning to Liverpool to fight in front of my loyal home fans again and give them a good performance to show that I’m back to my best.

“Urena looks like a tough challenger, but I haven’t seen too much of him yet, from what I’ve heard he likes to come forward which will play into my hands.

Stephen 'Swifty' Smith returns on May 11th

“It would be great to stop him in the first round, like the last two have gone, but I don’t go in looking to end things early it’s just the way things have worked out and if I see an opening I go for it.

“Of course, I want the fight with Selby again to have the chance to reclaim my titles and to put things right and I know I’ll get him down the line. I’m fighting regularly, keeping sharp and improving all the time so when I do face him I’ll beat him.”

The Olympia undercard features unbeaten super-middleweight Rocky Fielding in an eight-rounder; unbeaten light-middleweight prospect Joey Selkirk; Ellesmere Port super-flyweight talent Paul Butler, plus Liverpool’s Andy Coulqhoun and Lyndon Newman.

* Tickets are priced at £30, £40 and £60 and are available from Frank Warren Promotions on 01992 550 888 and Olympia Box Office on 0151 263 6633.