Bradford boxer Bobby 'The Viper' Vanzie has received a perfect new year gift - a confirmed date for his British and Commonwealth lightweight title defence against unbeaten Londoner Steve Smith.

The fight will top the bill at the Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre in the capital on Monday, February 24 on a show being promoted by Panix Promotions, who are headed by world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis's manager Frank Maloney.

The two men were due to meet in November, but Smith - who has scored 15 stoppages in his 24 pro wins - pulled out weeks before the contest after sustaining a cut nose in sparring.

The postponement led to Vanzie making a voluntary defence of his Commonwealth crown against Guyana's Vincent Howard in Manchester in which he broke a bone in his right hand as he romped to an overwhelming points win.

Twenty-five-year-old Vanzie said: "I am delighted the Smith fight is on. It's being staged in his backyard, but I see this as the big stage on which I can show the top boxing pundits what I am about.

"There will be a lot of media attention and I aim to prove that I am a worthy champion. This is a very big opportunity for me.

"I certainly won't need any firing up. Smith has been making comments about me, but I am waiting to take my revenge in the ring. I intend winning and would like to beat him inside the distance."

Vanzie, who has 16 wins and a draw from his 17-fight pro career, has had the protective strapping removed from his damaged hand, but has yet to test it out.

He added: "I have no pain and can form a fist. I will shortly be starting work on the punchbags in the gym. At that point I will know if there is a problem, but I don't expect one."

Victory would secure a Lonsdale Belt for Vanzie, who has already won two British title fights. It would also open the way for some lucrative contests against men such as Colin Dunne, Michael Ayers and Billy Schwer.

Vanzie's promoter Barry Hearn revealed before Christmas that he expects the lightweight division to be the most exciting in British boxing this year with lucrative pickings for the top men.

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