By Declan Taylor
PAUL SMITH is set to return to the ring on April 2 in Liverpool and will then set his sights on Felix Sturm as he bids to make it third time lucky in Germany, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Smith, the eldest of Liverpool's famous fighting brothers, has not boxed since June when he was stopped by Andre Ward.
The defeat had followed back-to-back losses to Arthur Abraham in his two cracks at the WBO super-middleweight title and it had been suggested that Smith would retire.
However the 33-year-old quickly quashed those rumours and insisted he had no intention of quitting, although he has now been out of the ring for eight months.
But Hearn has revealed that 'Smigga' will make his return in his hometown of Liverpool on the undercard of brother Callum's WBC final eliminator against Hadillah Mohoumadi, which takes place at the Echo Arena on April 2.
Then he will look to seal a big summer fight for the former British champion with a number of domestic showdowns at 168lbs possible.
However Hearn says he will attempt to set up a clash with new WBA king Sturm, who beat Fedor Chudinov in controversial circumstances in Germany on Saturday.
He said: “He’s probably going to fight on April 2 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, come back, get a win, then he’s ready to fight a big one.
“I think every super-middleweight in the world is licking their lips saying ‘I want that fight with Sturm’. But it was a controversial fight, the WBA might order the rematch - they did for Perez against Crolla.
“We’ve got some top super-middleweights in the country: DeGale, Groves, Murray, Callum Smith, Rocky Fielding, Paul Smith. There are so many in this country and they all want a crack at Felix Sturm.”
Martin Murray vowed never to challenge for a world title on the road again after he was beaten by Arthur Abraham in November. It was the fourth time Murray had failed to win one away from home following a draw with Sturm (Germany), defeat to Sergio Martinez (Argentina) and a stoppage at the hands of Gennady Golovkin (Monte Carlo).
But, despite losing twice to Abraham in Germany, Smith says he has no problem travelling there again to face Sturm.
Hearn added: “One thing that fans say is ‘why don’t you get Felix Sturm over to St Helen’s for a Martin Murray fight?’ Well let me say, Felix Sturm will never ever ever leave Germany to fight.
“We had it with Darren Barker and it’s never going to happen. It’s who is prepared to go to Germany. I don’t think Martin Murray would put himself through that again but Paul Smith probably would because his career is in a different position.
“He would love another shot at a world title wherever that might come.”
