A COMING OF AGE

It is undoubtedly one of boxing’s most overworked sayings. Yet it is one that will forever represent the most important moment in a fighter’s career.

This Saturday, it’s Dalton Smith’s turn.

It might seem slightly unjust to use the ‘coming of age’ phrase when talking about a fighter who medalled as a Commonwealth amateur, before faultlessly flying to the British title.

He has arguably already come of age.

However, Smith’s mindset has never been diverted from the goal he set himself as a wide-eyed child of the sport. That goal was to become world champion.

Therefore, his achievements thus far are merely stepping stones.

Now, he is leaping into the district where the real badass’ hang. It is a place he has never been before. One where his growing reputation is dwarfed by the experienced and elite.

This is the real ‘coming of age’.

And in Jose Zepeda, he faces an opponent who has trod flat that world level path. The 34-year-old is a three-time world title challenger at both lightweight and super-lightweight.

Note also that those world title shortcomings at 140lb came against Jose Ramirez and Regis Prograis. This is a man who has mixed it amongst some high-level stock.

This is also a man with the weaponry to make things happen. Just asked Josue Vargas, who was given barely 90 seconds to process round one before he was left in a heap.

Or you could ask Ivan Baranchyk, who after exchanging EIGHT knockdowns with Zepeda, was fed a sickening left hand that saw him leave the venue in an ambulance. Seriously.

So, a threat for sure, but one that Smith is well aware of. He is, in a game of egos, one who operates with a level-head.

He is also one who operates on high-energy and high-accuracy boxing. His ability to time a punch is one that pays credit to a shrewd schooling from his father Grant. It is a family where boxing runs deep.

It does feel like there is a real package waiting to be exhibited to the wider boxing world.

What makes this story even more absorbing is the cross-promotional domestic rival, who has been hailed as Britain’s next boxing superstar. I am, of course, talking about Adam Azim.

Full focus is - and rightly so - on Zepeda, however it is nigh-on-impossible to ignore an upcoming purse bid that could deliver a fight between Smith and Azim ahead of its full maturity.

I guess that stuff is to be sidelined for now whilst Smith and team deal with the lively little problem that is going to land on their doorstep this weekend.

It is cliché, but don’t blink. Or if you are going to, do so in between rounds at least.

Oscar Bevis

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