Donovan Smillie is ready to get serious.

The Bradford middleweight makes his ninth home-town appearance in the Town & Country Club bill on February 13.

But this will be his first appearance as English champion - a title that has given his career extra credibility.

Smillie won the belt in November with an impressive stoppage of previous holder Roddy Doran, and that result has got him noticed.

"People are taking me seriously now," he said. "Doran had never been stopped in his career, even Damon Hague couldn't do it and he's a good puncher.

"I was getting slagged off before that fight because nobody thought I could take a punch. Well I proved them wrong and then showed my power and now people have changed their tune.

"I'm first in line for the British title as the English champion and I feel I'm going places. My career was going nowhere before I joined the Ingles but they've seen me sit up and show an interest and I can only get better."

Smillie has signed another three-year deal with the Sheffield-based promoters.

After leaving previous managers Jack Trickett and Frank Maloney, it was a statement of intent that he will be sticking around.

"I may have had a reputation for moving on if things didn't seem to be moving. But I'm happy with the way they are taking me and it feels great. John still wants to take things step by step and will probably give me a few defences on the belt before going for a smaller version of the world title. We'll take our time but then I intend to go for it and try to win the British.

"I've proved to everyone that I'm much more than a six-round fighter and I've also finished a guy who had never been stopped before. I go into the ring now against good opponents and know that I can beat them."

Smillie's title will not be up for grabs in Manningham, where he is likely to be in six-threes action. But he is delighted to be back on familiar turf again. "I feel so much more comfortable boxing in Bradford. It's been nine months since I was last here and it's good to have the backing of your supporters.

"I'm looking forward to it. There should be a lot of people, with the women getting in free, and we'll put on a good show."

Bradford fighters Nadeem Siddique, Nathan Joseph, Danny Parkinson and Gavin Smith are also down to appear.