By Elliot Foster

Liam Smith has been handed an opponent ahead of his first world title defence.

The Liverpool super welterweight will put his WBO title on the line December 19 at the Manchester Arena, live on BoxNation. 

Smith, 27, is undefeated in 22 fights (21-0-1) with 11 knockouts and is set to come up against Jimmy Kelly Jr.

Having won the vacant crown with a seven-round stoppage against John Thompson at the same arena in October, ‘Beefy’ was eyeing a first defence of his crown against veteran Shane Mosley.

But after that became dead in the water following the collapsing of negotiations, number eight-rated Kelly, 23, has been given the chance to show his skills against a world champion just eight weeks after labouring to a points victory over Martin Fidel Rios to claim the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title at 154lbs.

Kelly has never fought over the 12-round distance before and, despite winning a WBC Youth world title against Isaac Aryee in June with a three-round stoppage, is yet to prove himself at the top level.

The fight between the Wythenshawe man and his Scouse rival is an all-North West showdown and reignites the well-known Liverpool-Manchester sporting rivalry.

In the latest WBO rankings, Kelly moved into the top 10 after winning the aforementioned Inter-Continental prize and was put in at number eight.

A press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow to formally announce the fight and will see Smith and Kelly go face-to-face for the first time.

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz