The newly-crowned Midland Counties champion hopes to start the celebrations early when he faces Christopher Cooper-Goddard of Hull Boys’ ABC in the last eight of the prestigious Golden Gloves Championship on Sunday.
And if he wins, he will end up taking part in a national semi-final on the very day he turns 15 a week on Saturday.
Smith has pulled out all the stops to reach this advanced stage in the class three 60-63 kilogram section, calling on all his powers of recovery to beat young England international Francis Bennett in the Midlands final.
Now the Copthorne teenager, a pupil at the Priory School, will be hoping to emulate his Severnside clubmate Brendan Howes who reached the national semis last year.
“Bradley’s now in the last eight in the country so that’s a real achievement,” said Severnside trainer Colin Hough. “He will test anybody the way he’s boxing at the moment, and he’s proved that with his recent performances.
“He will be reminded by me to keep his feet on the floor and forget what’s happened before. I always say yesterday is history and tomorrow’s a mystery. You go up the ladder one rung at a time. If you don’t, it hurts when you fall off.”
Hough, who put Smith through his final training session ahead of Sunday’s big clash last night, added he has been impressed how the youngster has taken his recent success in his stride.
“He’s a quiet lad, very laid back, and doesn’t say much,” he said. “But he seems to want to listen, which is a good thing. All of the other lads at the club are chuffed for him and are really behind him.”
Sunday’s action sees Smith make a quick return to Coventry’s Triumph Club – the venue for his stunning victory over Bennett in the last round.
