By Edward Chaykovsky
After failing to secure gold earlier this year, Stephen Smith is confident that his second time will be the charm on November 12.
Next month, Smith (24-2, 14KOs) will challenge WBA super featherweight world champion Jason Sosa at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco. The night will be headlined by heavyweight Luis Ortiz making his Matchroom Sport debut against Malik Scott.
Back in April, Smith failed in his mandatory shot, when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to IBF world champion Jose Pedraza.
Sosa (19-1-4, 15KOs) is returning to the ring for the first time since his shocking upset win over previously undefeated Javier Fortuna.
Fortuna was up on points and had Sosa down earlier in the fight, but he left himself open in the later rounds - allowing the Sosa the opportunity to put him away with a come from behind stoppage in the eleventh round.
Smith is also motivated to redeem the family honor, after brother Liam Smith lost his WBO junior middleweight title last month when he was knocked out by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Texas.
"Sosa is a good, solid fighter without being spectacular in any areas but we all know in boxing, styles make fights and I think his style will suit me," he told Sky Sports.
"Pedraza was tall and rangy and looked to pick up on the slightest mistake but Sosa is short, can punch and will be looking for the big shots.
"My biggest asset is my boxing brain. It is grounded in me and will make me perform against this sort of style. If I could pick any style to go up against it would be Sosa's.
"Technically he is very good and he's not just going to tear into me and might be a bit more cuter than people think. But as I said, he will come looking for those big shots so I've got to set a lot of traps and use my boxing ability. This is the sort of fight I like and that suits me and one I can definitely win."
