Paul David steps in for McDermott against Smith

Paul Smith will now face Paul David in a defence of his British super-middleweight on October 23.

The Liverpool hero had been due to take on Darren McDermott at the Echo Arena in front of his passionate fans.

But the Black Country Body Snatcher has tragically seen his career ended after suffering an injury in training.

The 32-year-old underwent emergency brain surgery this week.

"My thoughts are with Darren and his family and I hope he makes a full recovery," said Smith.

"I was looking forward to sharing a ring with him, and I'm sure we would have had a great fight.

"It's a dangerous sport we are in and boxers are fully aware of the risks involved, but it hits home hard when a boxer is injured.

"But now I am fully focused on Paul David, who will be an equally dangerous opponent.

"When people fight for the British title they tend to raise their game a notch or two, and David will be no difference.

"I know though that he is standing between me and my ambitions to win a world title.

"I want to do two things in the next 12 months - win a Lonsdale belt outright, and then go on to compete at the highest level.

"In my last three or four fights I have known that any kind of slip up will destroy my plans.

"This fight is no different."

David, a 26-year-old from Northampton, is a former Midlands Area super-middleweight champion, and has also won the English title during a four year career.

More recently, he made the final of Prizefighter, losing narrowly to Patrick Mendy.

Tickets for "On the Waterfront" are priced at £40, £50, £80, £100 & £150 and are available from:

Echo Arena Box Office
0844 800 0400
www.echoarena.com

Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com