Liverpool super-lightweight Sam Maxwell returned for the first time in 10 months with a comfortable six-round points victory over Shaun Cooper on Saturday.

Maxwell won every round on referee Kieran McCann’s scorecard in Nottingham to set up a shot at British champion Dalton Smith.

The 34-year-old Maxwell boxed well behind a prodding jab and often followed with thudding straight rights to the head of a game Cooper.

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed later in the night that April 29 in Sheffield is the target date for a showdown between Smith and Maxwell.

The Liverpudlian, who previously held the British title in 2019, lost to Alejandro Meneses in seven rounds last April for the IBO super-lightweight title.

Maxwell vacated the British belt to face Meneses but is determined to become a two-time British champion in 2023.

Smith also fought on the bill in Nottingham on Saturday.

The 26-year-old dropped Billy Allington in the eighth round before running out a wide winner on points (120-107, 118-109 twice).

The win marks Smith’s second successful defence of his belt since picking it up against Sam O’Maison in August.

Victory against Maxwell would see Smith win the British title outright following three defences of the belt.

The Sheffield man did however suffer a cut from a clash of heads on the night but remained optimistic that it would not push back the April date.

Above: Smith insists the cut won’t pushback a fight with Maxwell in April.

Maxwell returned to Liverpool’s Salisbury ABC recently under the tutelage of head trainer Paul Edwards.

(Featured pic Liverpool of Sam Maxwell – Alamy images under agreed licence)

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