‘SNIPER’ SAM SMITH says he has taken lots of positives away from his Ultimate Boxxer experience, despite suffering his second professional defeat.
A highly successful amateur during his Pinewood Starr days, Smith now has a pro record of 5-2 following his unanimous points decision loss in the three-round quarter-final against Shakan Pitters at The O2 in London.
Sniper, 25, was knocked down twice and broke his nose during a brutal second round against the 6ft 6in Pitters and although he admirably recovered to make it to the end of the fight, he lost out 30-25, 29-26 and 30-25 on the
judges’ scorecards.
Pitters went on to win the whole event to claim the lion’s share of the £50,000 prize fund as well as the coveted golden robe.
“I took some good positives from it,” Sniper told The Wokingham Paper.
“Being on the telly and having that exposure for the first time in my career at a big event didn’t go to my head. I didn’t get any nerves or anything like that and I performed really well, I really did.
“I know I didn’t get the result we wanted but I performed exactly how I’ve been training. It was just one of those things, going up against the favourite and going up against a massive puncher.
“He was taller, had a bigger physique and to go with his power he had actual speed as well. I think he had it all, he really did.”
He added: “I just got caught about a minute into the second round. Looking back at it now, there’s nothing you can do and I don’t think anyone could do.
“I did really well to actually get up from that shot. I don’t think there’s many people that probably would’ve got up. I showed my heart and my grit.
“After those two knockdowns I wasn’t going to pull that back, especially in a three-rounder, even though I won the last round.”
Smith is already planning ahead as he prepares to make a change ahead of 2019.
Sniper has decided to drop down from light heavyweight in an attempt to improve his 5-2 record and begin pushing for titles next year after a tough 2018 which saw him beaten twice.
“I’m going down to super middleweight, which I believe is definitely going to be my weight,” said Smith.
“I’ll be big for the weight and I’ll be strong for the weight. I was weighing 172lb on Thursday after having breakfast and drinking two litres of water. I was making the weight so comfortably.
“I think if you make weight easily then you’re in the wrong weight. I think I’ll definitely go down.
He added: “I’ve learned so much, especially in seven fights.
“I’ve had so many ups and down, more downs than ups at the minute, but I’ve got so many positives to take away and so much experience, especially being dropped twice and still gathering my bearings.
“It’s been a difficult year but I do believe that next year at super middleweight is going to be my year.
“I’m going to have one or two fights probably at the weight to see how it goes and then I really want to be challenging for titles. I believe next year will be my year.
“It’s been a massive, massive learning year for me in the gym and in the ring. The two losses were against good fighters.
“Now I know where I’m at and where my future is.
“I’ve not lost any confidence, if anything I’ve gained confidence in this fight, especially now I know what my weight is now and where I’m going to go, super middleweight.
“I’m excited really because my whole career I’ve been boxing at the wrong weight.”
