ACCORDING to trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick, boxer Sam ’Sniper’ Smith is ready to go again after suffering his first defeat as a professional last month.

Smith came unstuck in his fifth bout when he was beaten by Kirk Garvey in the seventh round of their Southern Area title final eliminator in London.

However, refreshed and revitalised, Smith is looking to get back in the ring on Saturday as Fitzpatrick outlines a busy period for the light-heavyweight, who trains at the Irishman’s Ferndale Road gym.

Providing all is well after Saturday’s contest, Smith will be back out again just two weeks later as he looks to make up for lost time due to injury last year.

Reflecting on Smith’s first defeat, Fitzpatrick thinks his man will have learned a lot from that disappointment.

“It wasn’t the intention all along. If he was victorious, then we would have been in a position where we were waiting for the board over what is happening with the Southern Area title,” he said.

“At the moment, it is held by Anthony Yarde. So, it wouldn’t have been a case of moving at the pace we wanted to.

“He had a slow year last year. He got injured twice and then had a show drop-out, so for him to come back after a year out against a guy like Garvey showed what level he is at.

“Technically and physically, he was fine in that fight. He just encountered a situation in the first round that he didn’t expect at all, when he knocked him down.

“We just want to get busy and get back in the mix.”

Should Smith prevail victorious from the back-to-back contests, Fitzpatrick believes there will be a number of different opportunities for the 25-year-old.

“With seven fights under his belt, he can then go on to challenge. There is the Southern Area title, then he will qualify for the English,” he added.

“He could fight a rematch with Garvey or he could fight an eliminator for the English title. There are various men out there and he is willing to fight.

“He wanted to fight directly for the Southern Area against Anthony Yarde, but I said I wouldn’t face him for that and I wouldn’t face him for an English title either.

“That is the character of Sam, he wants to be challenged and it isn’t just talk.”