Harrow boxer Mitchell Smith will finally get the chance to put aside his defeat to Bexley's George Jupp when the two meet for the second time in 18 months later this year.

Smith was seen off by unanimous decision when the pair contested the WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title in Manchester back in December 2015, a defeat he admits still haunts him "day in, day out".

The otherwise unbeaten fighter attributes his loss, at least in part, to living the "high life" outside of the ring – but it has also served as an inspiration to change things around.

Smith has since taken on a new approach, new coach and new lifestyle, with boxing now at the forefront of his life.

And ahead of the May 6 rematch at the Copper Box Arena in Stratford, Smith is confident it can help him avoid a second defeat he is so determined to avoid that he has already labelled the prospect of failure "career ending".

He said: "It would mean I've hit a level I won't be able to get past. I feel I can go in and win some of the big titles. I need to get past this stage to do that, and losing to him before - it would be devastating to go through that again.

"I’ll have had to live with it for a year and a half when I get to the fight, and I think about it day in, day out. There’s not a day which goes by where I don’t think about it.

"But I have fought the demons and I know I have the skill and talent and I know I’m an all-round better fighter, so long as I’m fit and focused – and I will be leaving no stone unturned."

Adam Booth has become Smith's trainer since his first bout with Jupp, and helped the Baby Faced Assassin to a four-round victory over Norwin Galo in October.

And the glowing terms in which the 24-year-old speaks of his new mentor tell enough of a story of just how much of an influence David Haye's former trainer has had on him.

"Adam is very knowledgeable," he said. "I've learned that I can't get away with living the high life outside of boxing. I've learned about nutrition and how to start living clean.

"Losing that fight was a consequence of being like that - I feel a bit embarrassed in the way I performed that night. I was unfit.

"I've done a lot of growing up over the past year or so, and I think it will show in my performance when I fight George next."