These days, talented left footers can command a sizable transfer fee and a hefty weekly wage but once the 25-year-old southpaw from Timperley realized he could fight, his future path was set.

“I love football, but funnily enough, I would never head the ball,” the middleweight told The Ring with a laugh. “I'd rather get punched in the head than head the ball. I just thought, 'No, heading the ball hurts,' but then I'd rather get punched in the head and that's fine, it's weird.

"I was a winger so I was pretty quick, up and down the wing, cutting in on my left. To be fair, I never actually intended to box. It was more of just a self-defense thing that my dad got me into. It was just more for confidence going into secondary school, then I realized I was pretty good so just carried it on.”

Smith (10-0, 1 KO) was more than good.

He won three consecutive National Youth Championships at 60kgs, 64kgs and 69kgs but decided to leave the amateurs when a cut ended his hopes of winning the 75kg (165-pound) title.

Smith has had three injury-interrupted years as a professional, and will return on Pat Barrett's local show in Liverpool against Romanian journeyman Octavian Gratii on Saturday.

It would have been very easy for a young fighter to get frustrated by constant setbacks and lose motivation. Yet his trainer, Joe Gallagher, has praised his commitment to bettering himself during what has been an undoubtedly testing time.

Momentum is starting to build. Smith boxes for the third time in the space of four months and can feel the improvements.

“I think it's just the refinement. I think Joe likes me to set a bit more of a pace, he's massive on ring craft and getting the rounds in. I feel like I've come on a lot since I've been here,” he said.

“I feel like I can adapt really to what's in front of me, and I think that's very important because you're not always going to be the hardest hitter or the fastest person. I think you've got to have the right timing, adapt to what you've got to do in there. I think that's a sign of a good fighter.”

Smith has had some words of encouragement from one of the smartest, most adaptable boxers of the modern era.

Smith bears a striking resemblance to multi-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez and Gallagher arranged for the Mexican great to send him a good luck video in the days before his professional debut.

Last year, their paths crossed at the Mike Tyson Gym in Saudi Arabia as Alvarez completed preparations for his unanimous decision victory over William Scull. Rather than simply putting up his fist and posing for photographs, Alvarez gave Smith a glimpse of the work ethic and attention to detail that has taken him so far.

“That was a surreal moment when Joe showed me that,” Clark said of the good luck message.

“Then, two and a half years later I meet him. He was just such a nice, humble guy. We walked over, he pointed and recognized me straight away and just asked me how I'm getting on. He allowed us to train next to him while he was in his final weeks of training before the Scull fight. It was amazing to watch.”