HIGH WYCOMBE'S boxing talent Ben Smith says he was disappointed not to get the first knockout of his career but he is looking at the positives.

Smith took his professional record to 4-0 at the Harrow Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 8 after outpointing Plymouth's Chris Adaway 40-36 in four rounds in a thoroughly one-sided performance.

And Smith confessed despite not getting the first stoppage of his career he craved, he can look back on what he describes as a performance which will help him immeasurably going forward.

“Obviously I was so desperate for the knockout,” admitted Smith. “And I was a little bit upset about not getting it but the more I look back at the fight the happier I am about it.

“I boxed well and stuck to the game plan. He's a tough guy who stood tall and firm behind his jab, but I stayed patient and in the later rounds it was like a sparring session in there for me.

“Overall it was a good experience for me, I learnt a lot from it like I have done in every fight, and I know it will definitely help in the future.”

The 20-year-old readily admits it was perhaps a rush of blood to the head in front of a crowd largely cheering for him as the defining reason he was a little brash in the early exchanges of the fight.

But thanks to some invaluable advice in his corner from trainer Mark Tibbs he was able to eventually grind down his opponent and cruise to the points victory.

“I hit him with a huge overhand right at the start of the second round,” Smith said. “He wobbled and I went for it, perhaps I was too caught up and too desperate in getting the knockout.

“But my corner calmed me down and told me to remain patient, which I did. And I think that shows that I have the ability and maturity to take things on board and change things in a fight.”

Now Smith, who fights out of Frank Warren's pool of talent, is looking towards the future but he insists he won't be choosing his opponent any time soon.

“I'm back in training next week and then we'll sit down with Frank and have a chat about what we can do,” said Smith. “I'm in no position to be calling anyone out yet because I'm so young.

“But I trust the guys who are in charge of the direction of my career at this point so we'll see what becomes available.

"Realistically we are a few years away from a title fight, so we'll have to have a few more fights to keep increasing my confidence."