Stephen Smith desperate to return to top level after Jose Pedraza loss
Tuesday 24 May 2016 10:14, UK
Stephen Smith believes he proved his class against Jose Pedraza and wants another world title shot as soon as possible.
'Swifty' (23-2-KO13) lost a unanimous decision to IBF world super-featherweight champion Pedraza (22-0-KO12) in April and will fight for the first time since on Sunday on the undercard of Tony Bellew v Ilunga Makabu - live on Sky Sports.
Ahead of facing Daniel Brizuela (28-5-2-KO8) at Goodison Park, Smith said: "I want to get another world title fight as soon as possible.
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"I am not getting any younger and I have shown I belong at that level so I want to stay at that level and be put straight back in at that level. If somebody offered me a world title fight next fight I would take it.
"My confidence hasn't dropped and I didn't take any negatives from the Pedraza fight other than the result. I learnt a lot from it and will become a better fighter from it. It will only stand me in good stead for the future so the sooner I can get another shot at a world title the better.
"A lot of people see it as tough for me to get motivated having been up for a world title fight but for me, fighting on this massive bill, is going to be huge for me and I want to perform and look good in front of my fans.
"It wasn't the result I aimed for and believed I would get in America but I have to give credit to Pedraza because I performed well and did a lot of things which made me think he is a good fighter. I learnt a lot from sharing the ring for 12 good rounds with him.
"I thought it was a very even fight after eight rounds and then there was a knockdown I kicked myself over. It was one of those where it wasn't really a big shot, it was more down to my feet placement than anything else.
"I was a little bit off balance and the shot caused me to touch down. It was a big swing giving him a two-point round with only three rounds to go and I knew I had an uphill task from there. When the final bell went I thought he had won.
"On the night I don't think I could have given much more, when I watch it back there are things you look at which you think could have gone a bit different but on the night I did everything I could and did my best and the better man won on the night. But that doesn't mean I don't believe I belong at that level and don't believe I couldn't beat him on another night, it just wasn't my night."
Watch Smith v Brizuela, Bellew v Makabu, Callum and Paul Smith, David Price, Sean Dodd and more live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday from 6pm.
The Liverpool card is just half of a huge Bank Holiday boxing weekend with Ricky Burns challenging Michele Di Rocco for the vacant WBA world super-lightweight crown on Saturday night, Sky Sports 1 from 8pm.
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