Nicky Smedley has been boxing for half his young life, having first walked into a boxing gym aged 11 after getting into a scuffle at school.

He recalls: "The fight was naught and got split up pretty quick but I wanted to learn how to take care of myself. And I just loved training. I had 23 amateur fights, with 12 knockouts, and realised I was very good at this."

So good, in fact, that the Sheffield quicksilver was put on standby to face media darling Amir Khan last summer, in the event Olympic and World champion Mario Kindelan withdrew from their scheduled bout. However, Kindelan went through with the fight and Smedley, after receiving offers from every major promoter in the country, turned pro with Fight Academy in July 2005.

Fighting in a six rounder right from the off, Smedley has been ear-marked as an exciting young talent by many within the trade. Quiet almost to the point of shyness but nevertheless steely confident, 'the Nightmare' has big ambitions, and, despite his youth is anxious to win titles ASAP.

He said: "I'm fast and unorthodox. I think it is taking a little while for me to find my rhythm as a professional but it is kicking in now. People always ask my about Khan but I think he's done no more than I have as a pro yet. We're both improving but I think I'm faster than him and got loads more stamina.

"I've been fighting journeymen, like Khan, but at least I've been boxing journeymen from my own weight division or even bigger where Amir is fighting super-featherweights."

And Smedley believes he could beat the Olympic silver medallist to a major professional title. He said: "My first target is the English Title. Scott Lawton is the current champion but I know I will get on top of him. Scott is a nice guy but I was all over him in sparring and shook him up a few times. I'd like that fight as soon as possible."

On June 22, Smedley scored the first stoppage of his embryonic career by halting Martin Sweeney in three blistering rounds. Smedley was giving away 11lbs in weight after his opponent came in heavy but that counted as naught as the Sheffield lad put in the performance of his career thus far.

Father/trainer Chris adds: "People are doubting Nicky's power but what is happening is that these opponents are getting hit and hurt early and are then covering up for the rest of the fight. Last time, though, Martin Sweeney came to have a go because he was nearly a stone heavier than Nicky. He came to fight and than allowed Nicky the chance to show what he can really do."

Nicky told us "Frontin was a very good amateur and he caught me with a swinging right hand and he timed it well, I was down for a second but not hurt, I was more shocked than anything but after watching the video I clearly won, but what a learning fight.

I gained more out of that fight than any of my others."