Police confirmed the 38-year-old Liverpudlian was arrested after the man suffered serious facial injuries on September 13. The alleged victim reportedly required surgery after the incident.

The next day, Smith appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court, charged with causing GBH with intent. He was released on bail.

Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs) will be asked to enter a plea when he appears at Manchester Crown Court on October 19.

Smith hasn’t boxed since he was outpointed by Aaron McKenna in April 2025 but earlier this year he was linked to a fight with WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley.

A proposed return to action was scuppered when injury ruled him out of a trip to Finland and a September 4 fight with Ilaru Kujala.

Smith won the WBO 154-pound title with a one-sided win over John Thompson in October 2015.

In September 2016 he lost the belt to Mexican great Canelo Alvarez at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Smith scored his most famous victory in January 2023 when he stopped Chris Eubank Jr. in four rounds. After a build-up hampered by injury and weight issues, he was stopped in the 10th round of a rematch the following September.