Kyle Smith: From Windsor Park to Ulster Hall in a dream first year as a pro
Kyle Smith is preparing to mark a memorable first year in the professional ranks by stepping into one of Belfast boxing’s most iconic venues this weekend.
For the young Belfast boxer, the past 12 months have been everything he could have hoped for and more, with a dream debut at Windsor Park setting the tone for a rapid start to his professional career.
A Stadium start was followed by a hometown headliner and, most recently, the SSE Arena in Belfast has seen him compete on stages he once only dreamed of fighting on.
The 20-year-old adds another to the list this weekend when he trades leather in the atmospheric Ulster Hall on the Unleashed Card this Saturday,
“It flew in. A dream start really for myself. A debut at Windsor Park, which as a kid I could only dream about, to then bringing boxing back to my hometown headlining in my second fight was amazing, followed by another outing in the Mill and last time out at the O2 in Belfast,” he tells Irish-boxing.com, reflecting on his debut year.
“Fighting on these stages was a dream and I’m following it right through.”
Now, the Ulster Hall awaits — a venue steeped in boxing history and one that carries a special significance for any fighter from Belfast.
“This weekend will be electric, fighting at the iconic Ulster Hall where all the local greats have fought,” he said.
“So, as always, I’ve put 110% into my training and the performance will show that.”
The first 12 months have been much more about four fights and four wins. There has been plenty of gym work to change the Holy Trinity graduate into a bonafide pro.
Moving away from the amateur ranks has required changes to his fighting style, while the business side of professional boxing has brought a new set of responsibilities.
“Adjusting really from the amateur side of things, the style that you fight in, ticket selling, self-promoting yourself a lot more than you would have to necessarily worry about in the amateurs,” he explained.
It is a learning curve that Smith appears to be embracing, with the young fighter already grateful for the opportunities that have come his way during his opening year.
“I didn’t think I would have had such opportunities this early on in my career, but big thanks to my dad, Mark and Dan for getting me ready,” he said.
Looking ahead to the next 12 months, his ambitions are clear.
“By this time next year, I would want to be kept active, which there is no doubt about, learning on the job, stepping up to eight rounds, learning my craft,” he said.
For now, however, the focus is firmly on Ulster Hall and another chance to add to a first professional year that has already delivered some special moments.
