Smith is still hoping to add the British title to his Commonwealth crown

Newly crowned Commonwealth featherweight champion Stephen Smith could be out of action for up to six months with a hand injury.

Smith, 25, damaged his left hand in defeating John Simpson to take the title on 4 September.

"I've torn the tendon in my left hand and I've got to have an operation," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It will be between three and six months before it heals. It depends on how the operation goes."

Smith took the title via a split decision points victory in front of Simpson's home fans in Glasgow.

The Liverpool fighter said, once he felt his left hand break in the fourth round, it completely affected his approach.

"I started hesitating and neglecting my jab.

"That's why I was leading with right hand and falling in. That's why people thought I'd changed my game plan," said Smith.

"It wasn't through wanting to, it was through having too as I couldn't really jab."

The fight against Simpson doubled as a final eliminator to face British Champion Martin Lindsay for the Northern Irishman's Lonsdale Belt.

They've got to go to the British Boxing Board of Control now and see what's going on Stephen Smith

Smith also said he hopes his hand injury will not end his chances of facing Lindsay.

"They've got to go to the British Boxing Board of Control now and see what's going on.

"I'm mandatory and Lindsay has to fight me by November but if I've got a problem and I have to pull out with the injury I don't know where that will leave me."

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