West Ham United-mad fighter Mitchell Smith has been named 2015 Best Young Boxer of the Year by the prestigious Boxing Writers’ Club
West Ham United-mad fighter Mitchell Smith has been named 2015 Best Young Boxer of the Year by the prestigious Boxing Writers’ Club.
The 22-year-old has written his name into history alongside a list of former winners which reads like a who’s who of British boxing – Barry McGuigan, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton.
The unbeaten super featherweight has won all 13 of his bouts so far, including seven knockouts, and has also claimed the Southern Area, English, WBO European and WBO Intercontinental titles Now ranked No8 at his weight by the WBO, the Harrow-based fighter’s next target is a world title shot.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been honoured with this award because it’s humbling to think that all these knowledgeable boxing writers who have the whole country to choose from, have picked me for this award, so it means a great deal.” smiled the man nicknamed Baby Faced Assassin, who received his award at London’s Savoy Hotel on Monday evening.
“I feel really proud to have my name on the trophy alongside so many great British fighters who I’ve looked up to during my career. It’s made me even more determined to go on and prove myself worthy of the writers’ choice again in the coming years.”
Having been so successful during 2015 so far, winning all three fights he has contested, Smith compared the positives from his year with that of Slaven Bilic’s team on the pitch in the 2015/16 season.
“Things are really starting to take off for me now and it is really exciting times, which could also be said about how the Hammers have started this season!” he continued.
“To pick up nine points away to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in our first three trips on the road was incredible.
“With the new manager, staff and players, especially the flair players like Manual Lanzini and Dimitri Payet, there seems to be a new energy around the club that we’ve not seen for a while.
“Everyone at the club is working really hard on the pitch for each other and it’s clear to see from a fan’s point of view that there is a great team spirit.”
The future is extremely bright for this talented young boxer, who is exciting about what’s to come for himself and the club he loves.
“I’m up to number eight in the world now and I’m the current WBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Champion so I seem to be getting forever closer to my dream of one day being a world champion!” Smith exclaimed.
“Similarly, West Ham could achieve whatever they want this season if they continue to play as they have so far.
“I’m a big fan of Adrian and James Tomkins as they came to see me one day in the gym a couple of year ago, but I have to mention Winston Reid’s performance at Manchester City because it was the highlight of the season for me so far.
“Like I say though, if we can be consistent and keep picking up points against both the bigger and smaller teams in the league, who knows how far we could go this year.”
Smith would like to thank West Ham United and all the die-hard Hammers fans who continue to follow his career and he appreciates all the good luck messages he receives.
The Claret and Blue Army will be out in force again when Smith contests his next fight is at the Harrow Leisure Centre on Friday 30 October, when he faces south London rival George Jupp in a defence of his WBO Intercontinental belt.
The 22-year-old has written his name into history alongside a list of former winners which reads like a who’s who of British boxing – Barry McGuigan, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton.
The unbeaten super featherweight has won all 13 of his bouts so far, including seven knockouts, and has also claimed the Southern Area, English, WBO European and WBO Intercontinental titles Now ranked No8 at his weight by the WBO, the Harrow-based fighter’s next target is a world title shot.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been honoured with this award because it’s humbling to think that all these knowledgeable boxing writers who have the whole country to choose from, have picked me for this award, so it means a great deal.” smiled the man nicknamed Baby Faced Assassin, who received his award at London’s Savoy Hotel on Monday evening.
“I feel really proud to have my name on the trophy alongside so many great British fighters who I’ve looked up to during my career. It’s made me even more determined to go on and prove myself worthy of the writers’ choice again in the coming years.”
Having been so successful during 2015 so far, winning all three fights he has contested, Smith compared the positives from his year with that of Slaven Bilic’s team on the pitch in the 2015/16 season.
“Things are really starting to take off for me now and it is really exciting times, which could also be said about how the Hammers have started this season!” he continued.
“To pick up nine points away to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in our first three trips on the road was incredible.
“With the new manager, staff and players, especially the flair players like Manual Lanzini and Dimitri Payet, there seems to be a new energy around the club that we’ve not seen for a while.
“Everyone at the club is working really hard on the pitch for each other and it’s clear to see from a fan’s point of view that there is a great team spirit.”
The future is extremely bright for this talented young boxer, who is exciting about what’s to come for himself and the club he loves.
“I’m up to number eight in the world now and I’m the current WBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Champion so I seem to be getting forever closer to my dream of one day being a world champion!” Smith exclaimed.
“Similarly, West Ham could achieve whatever they want this season if they continue to play as they have so far.
“I’m a big fan of Adrian and James Tomkins as they came to see me one day in the gym a couple of year ago, but I have to mention Winston Reid’s performance at Manchester City because it was the highlight of the season for me so far.
“Like I say though, if we can be consistent and keep picking up points against both the bigger and smaller teams in the league, who knows how far we could go this year.”
Smith would like to thank West Ham United and all the die-hard Hammers fans who continue to follow his career and he appreciates all the good luck messages he receives.
The Claret and Blue Army will be out in force again when Smith contests his next fight is at the Harrow Leisure Centre on Friday 30 October, when he faces south London rival George Jupp in a defence of his WBO Intercontinental belt.