Paul Smith to defend British title against Luke Blackledge

By Terence Dooley

The BBBoC have confirmed that Paul Smith will defend his British Super middleweight title against Luke Blackledge.  Smith won the belt by beating Tony Dodson courtesy of a sixth-round TKO at the Bolton Arena in June, should he beat Blackledge he will own the Lonsdale belt outright.

'The Stewards decided to approve a request by Promoter Frank Warren for the above voluntary defence contest to take place on a date and at a venue as yet to be advised,' stated the BBBoC when confirming the bout, which will see Blackledge, 13-1-2 (5), contest the prestigious title for the first time.

Smith, 33-3 (19), was in the form of his life when winning the belt and the 30-year-old Liverpudlian will be confident of netting the win needed to own it for keeps.

Ironically, the 23-year-old challenger is trained by Kevin Maree, he also trains Kenny Anderson, who gave the title up up for "personal reasons" earlier this year and paved the way for Smith versus Dodson II.  Maree will hope that Clitheroe's Blackledge will be able to bring the belt back to Maree's Clitheroe-based gym.

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