RUNCORN prospect Tom Smith hopes to fit the bill as boxing returns to St Basil's in Widnes tonight by public demand.

The Hough Green social club attracts good crowds for its Warrington Phoenix Olympic Centre bills and this evening's show should prove just as popular.

Smith, 16, has won 10 of his 14 bouts - his latest success coming against Carlisle's Daniel Byers, whom he outpointed a fortnight ago at Lowton Civic Centre.

He is this time matched up with Liam Vaughan from Liverpool Transport, who is the same age and has a similar record.

There are debut bouts for two promising Widnes light-welterweights.

Terry Spencer, 18, and 19-year-old Adam Thompson have both been training at Phoenix for about a year.

Coach Damian Ridpath said: 'To get ready to go for your first competition in 12 months is very good.

'Usually, we find it takes about 18 months so they have done well.'

Spencer, who lives in Barrow's Green, faces Tameside Elite's Bobby Gilder, also 18 years old and unboxed.

Farnworth-based Thompson's opponent will be Preston & Fulwood's 18-year-old Stephen Singh, who is likewise in first-time competitive action.

The season is now getting into full swing but, unfortunately, Widnesian pair Liam Kavanagh and Robert Crewe are ruled out tonight by working commitments.

However, they are to make a spectacular return to the ring on February 17.

They are among four Phoenix boxers selected to represent West Lancs and Cheshire against The Army at Devonshire House Hotel in Liverpool.

Admission tonight is £8 for adults and £5 for children, senior citizens and students.

The bill (8pm start) is dominated by junior and senior contests although there are expected to be a couple of schoolboy bouts first up.

Several national champions will be on show and an international clash of two 14-year-olds could well take centre stage.

Phoenix's English Golden Gloves champion Courtney Chadwick will be up against Welsh champion Asahi Ghani from Holy-head in a 41kg bout.

The bill also features Penketh super-middleweight George Evans, who faces an opponent from Nottinghamshire at 116 kilos (18st 3lb).

Evans, 22, has 15 bouts under his belt. There will be another bill at St Basil's on April 20.