The Liverpudlian super middleweight has been rebuilding his career along the East Lancs Road ever since losing his crown to James DeGale last year.
Tomorrow night at Wembley Arena, he has the chance to reclaim that belt against British and Commonwealth champion, George Groves.
And if he does that, it will totally vindicate his decision to return to Manchester in a bid to rediscover his golden touch.
Smith, who used to train alongside Ricky Hatton and Matthew Macklin at Billy Graham’s Denton gym, turned to Joe Gallagher when his career was on the ropes last December.
A ninth-round stoppage at the hands of DeGale in front of his hometown fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena was one of his lowest ebbs in the ring.
And then aged 28, with DeGale and Groves the rising stars of the super middleweight in this country, it looked like his glory days could have come to a premature end.
But Smith is convinced Gallagher can steer him to British title success – just as he has with John Murray, Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg, Macklin and his younger brother, Stephen.
“I’d seen what he’d done with other fighters – but it was particularly what he’d done with Anthony Crolla that made me think it would be the right move,” said Smith. “I had wanted to go sooner, but it was too close to a fight and I decided not to.
“But if I could change things I would certainly have moved sooner.”
Smith has been handed a swift chance for redemption against Groves – but is seen as the rank outsider against a man who defeated DeGale on points in May and is undefeated in 13 fights.
“I always thought I’d get the chance to fight for a British title again because I’m at that level,” said Smith. “I probably didn’t think it would happen this year because I thought there would be a rematch between Groves and DeGale.
“Groves has a lot of faults that I know I can capitalise on. He’s good if you let him look good, but he’s very vulnerable and I’ve got the style to beat him.
“I thought DeGale would beat him and watching the fight I thought DeGale should have got the decision.”
Groves rose to fame as a top amateur and the protege of David Haye.
But Gallagher believes Smith is ready to pull off one of the biggest shocks of the year by inflicting a first defeat on the 23-year-old.
“I’ve seen that Paul is 50-1 to win by knockout by some bookies, but when you’ve got dynamite in your fists like he has those odds are unbelievable.
“It is very flattering when someone of Paul’s calibre says he wants to come and work with you. I was as honoured as when Matthew Macklin came to me.
“He’s been in and around world class gyms and world class fighters.
“I am convinced he can win and make it a hat-trick of British champions in the gym.
“Groves boxes really well and he will try to take the sting out of Paul, but we are ready for that.” Tweet
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A nice little 3 way rivalry might develop if Smith wins this one. But I hope he doesn't. Not cos I don't like Smith (I do), but cos it'll mean that the deplorable Degale will be piping up again and will likely get another shot at Groves. After the rubbish he came out with before the Groves fight, I would hazard a guess that he lost the support of 95% of the British boxing fraternity.
What a load of rubbish your talking free Ian brown ,I'm no big fan of degale but he does at least deserve to fight the winner of smith v groves ,a lot of boxers talk down there opponents it sells tickets it makes people at home tune into sky ,I hope smith wins and if he catches groves flush then groves is going down ,gotta have a score on that ! Cmon smithy lad good luck ,I didn't even know it was tonight this fight until I just read the paper! Everybody knew when groves v regale was fighting because degale played his part
Smith made a fool of himself against Groves. After giving it the 'big I am' he got iced in just over a round.
After he got knocked out he was staggering around the ring telling everyone that the referee shouldn't have stopped it!!! It was pretty funny, the guy could hardly stand up and he should have been alound to carry on!!! It Frank Warren and Joe G had to calm him down.
Lets face it, its debatable whether Smith is the best Super-Middleweight in Liverpool, he was very lucky to win the British title on a split Decision to Tony Quigley, and then he got knocked out by Degale and Groves. The way he talks you would think he must be world class, but when you see him fight he is border-line British class.
I'm a big fan of George and he gains kudos for getting the tricky Smith out of there early. Was good to hear him talking pragmatically about taking fights that will bring him to world class rather than giving it the big i am.
Don't agree that he should give De Gale a rematch yet, leave it a couple of years and if they both progress it could be a world title eliminator. Does he have to beat him every year just to shut him up ? De Gale needs it a lot more than Groves does.
Couple of years time it'd be great to see George fight the cobra when he's slightly over the hill. Styles would gel perfectly, it'd be a brutal fight