Elgin lightweight Andrew Smart believes he has momentum on his side after winning his first professional six-round bout against Englishman Dean Jones on Friday.
Smart triumphed 58-56 on points against Telford’s Jones at Northern Sporting Club’s “Homecoming” event at Elgin town hall, to secure his third successive triumph since turning professional.
Smart feels the victory has got him back on track after two postponed fights in recent months, with the 25-year-old hopeful he will not have long to wait before returning to the ring.
Northern Sporting Club have confirmed it will hold a co-promotion with Kynoch Boxing at DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen Treetops on Saturday, November 16, and Smart said: “I definitely feel I’ve got momentum, especially after that.
“At my last fight in May I thought I maybe stalled a little bit, especially with our February show being cancelled.
“That was a bit of a downer because after my debut in November I was out of the ring for five or six months.
“These things happen. We got back in May, and then the August show was postponed.
“But we got the opportunity to get the show here and we grabbed it. I think we blew it out of the park.
“It shows I’m fit enough for the six rounds, so we will just go back and rest, get some good food, and get back on for the next date.
“I think there’s possibly one in November and maybe one towards the start of next year.”
Smart topped the billing at Friday’s event, which was the first professional boxing to be staged in Elgin for 80 years, and he was overwhelmed by the reaction he received from his local supporters.
Smart added: “I maybe got a bit excited, but with the crowd out there it would have been hard not to have been.
“It’s everything I thought it would be, and more as well. Walking out and seeing everyone on the stage and at their tables was just incredible.
“They were all there to see me. I hope I delivered and they got their money’s worth.
“Being so close to home, and a lot of my friends to be there was just incredible.
“Towards the end I maybe let the crowd and the atmosphere get the better of me. I maybe tried to stand in front of him and fight a little bit too much. I got caught with some shots but didn’t get hurt.”
Smart is hopeful of another home outing next year, adding: “My manager David McAllister has mentioned we could come back as early as April or May next year. Going by this it’s only going to be a bigger show than it was before.
“I might have one or two fights in between which will be even better, because I’ll have more experience.
“I can come back and put on an even better performance.”
