Smith's record has now slipped to 23 wins and 1 defeat (Getty)

Coventry's Steven Bendall is the new English middleweight champion after beating Paul Smith Jnr at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Saturday.

The narrow points defeat, 96-94, was the first loss of 25-year-old Smith's professional career.

Smith had hoped to challenge for the British title this autumn but that prospect is now in doubt as he is no longer the mandatory challenger.

Elsewhere on the card, there were debut wins for Stephen Smith and Joe Selkirk.

Stephen Burke saw his run of inactivity continue in Sheffield.

His fight was pulled due to the lack of a suitable available opponent.

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