British Champion Paul Smith set for Magee title defence

Paul Smith (r) made a succesful first defence of his title against Tony Dodson in March

By Craig Lowe, BBC Radio Merseyside Boxing Correspondent

British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith will make the second defence of his title against reigning European champion Brian Magee.

Magee has been installed as Smith's mandatory contender by the British Boxing Board of Control and the fight must happen before 30 July.

"There's arguments it's the biggest fight of my life, everything's at stake," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It's great he has to fight me for my belt regardless of what belt he owns."

The fight is still at the purse bids stage, with a decision due on 12 May but Liverpool-born Smith, 27, is hoping Magee, 34, will also put his European title on the line when the two men meet.

"It doesn't make any sense for him to just fight me for my British title," he said.

"If his European is on the line, which we all think it will be then great it's a challenge for the European title for me, which is the logical step for me," said Smith.

He's a good technical boxer but I do feel I've got all the tools to beat him

Paul Smith on Brian Magee

"I don't feel I want to go backwards defending my title again. I'd like to go forward, win the European and see where we can go from there."

Magee is a former British champion who has held the IBO version of the world title and last lost in 2006 at the hands of Carl Froch.

Smith knows he is up against it in facing the man from Belfast but he remains confident of victory.

"I've proved by beating those two [Tony Quigley and Tony Dodson] that I'm ready for bigger and better things, hopefully.

"Brian Magee is the ideal fight for me and that's what the British Board of Control have seen," added Smith.

Smith, who is ranked inside the top five by the World Boxing Organisation, accepts Magee is the kind of fighter he must beat if he is to continue his rise through the professional ranks.

"I'm always going to have hard fights but at the end of the day if you want something it's never going to be easy.

"I've always respected and rated Brian Magee. He's a good technical boxer but I do feel I've got all the tools to beat him."