Stephen Smith will fight Jose Pedraza for IBF super-featherweight world title in New York

STEPHEN SMITH will face IBF super-featherweight champion Jose Pedraza in his first world title fight.

 

Stephen Smith will face Jose Pedraza for the IBF super-featherweight title

The 30-year-old Liverpool fighter will travel to New York on March 26 as he looks to emulate brother Liam, who became WBO light-middleweight champion this year.

Smith – one of four fighting brothers – beat Devis Boschiero in September to secure his mandatory shot against the Puerto Rican.

The purse bids for the fight were cancelled on Tuesday after both sides struck a deal, the IBF confirmed.

 

Smith – who has lost one of 24 fights – has only fought outside of the UK on one occasion when he beat Arpad Vass in Germany in 2012.

His brother Paul challenged Arthur Abraham twice for the WBO super-middleweight title but came up short.

But Liam was crowned light-middleweight champion in October when he stopped John Thompson and made his first defence this month against Jimmy Kelly.

Callum is closing in on a WBC super-middleweight title shot after his impressive first-round stoppage of local rival Rocky Fielding in November.