SAM ‘Sniper’ Smith should be under no illusions when going toe-to-toe with Anthony Fox at the Oasis Leisure Centre next month when the pair fight for the vacant Southern Area super-middleweight title, according to Fight Town II show promoter Mark Neilson.

Despite his record of eight wins, 12 losses and four draws, Westbury-based Fox has won his last three fights against opponents with a combined record of 46-6-2.

It makes the 24-year-old a force to be reckoned with in the eyes of Neilson, who in association with Swindon trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick will present Fight Town II at the Oasis Leisure Centre on Saturday, September 28.

Luke ‘Duke’ Watkins, Ryan Martin, Jensen Irving and Bec Connolly are other Swindon-based fighters expected to be on the evening’s card.

But Neilson has underlined Smith’s dual with Fox as one that the town’s boxing fans cannot afford to miss.

He said: “Anthony Fox’s record doesn’t show how good he is.

“He’s on a good run at the moment having won his last three fights against opponents that have winning records.

“He wasn’t supposed to win his last fight (against Duane Sinclair), but he won on points. Fox was selected as an opponent because he was ranked 13th in the UK and Sinclair wanted to leapfrog him in the rankings.

“That’s what is happening with Anthony – he’s upsetting the script.

“People look at his record of eight wins, 12 losses and four draws and think they will have a bit of that.

“Fox is a tough guy. His record might not show him as a concussive puncher but I’ve talked to people that have been in the ring with him and they know how hard he hits.”

In addition, Neilson expects Fox to arrive in Swindon having done his homework on Smith, who is based at Fitzpatrick’s Ferndale Road gym.

With a professional record of 7-2-0, Smith cast aside his 2018 losses to Kirk Garvey and Shaken Pitters when beating both Raimonds Sniedze and Harry Matthews on points in his two most recent bouts.

Neilson added: “Anthony will have his analysis on Sam Smith, and he will enter the fight with a strategy – he is a handful.

“He’s reached the stage in his career where he is too good to be a journeyman. Fighters with unbeaten records will want to fight journey men over six rounds.

“Anthony is too good for that now. His problem is that he isn’t getting the opportunity for big fights because no one will want to take him on.

“We’re delighted to get him in. He deserves a title shot.”