The man from Liverpool, England was appointed as head coach by Boxing Australia last week and his main task is to improve Australia's poor record at Olympic level, which has seen a return of just one silver and two bronze medals at an Olympic Games.

And Australian has not won an Olympic boxing medal since Grahame Cheney claimed light welterweight silver in Seoul in 1988.

Extra funding has been allocated to boxing through the Australian Institute of Sport's (AIS) Winning Edge programme to target more success in multi-medal sports at Olympic Games.

''The challenge of qualifying for the next Olympics through Asia, which Oceania has joined together with, is a great challenge,'' said Smith, who was in charge of Nigeria's boxing campaign at London 2012.

''But that's simple compared to winning Olympic medals, which is our aim.

"It's not going to be easy, and we don't want it to be.''

More immediately on the horizon is the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Australia has got a considerably better record in this event with a total of 59 medals including 13 golds.

However, no Australian medalled at Delhi 2010, the first time the country drew a blank since the 1974 Games in Christchurch.

Despite the lack of success in London and Delhi, Smith is in bullish mood about Australia's prospects this summer as he gets set to put the final touches to a possible 11-strong squad for Glasgow.

''We're aiming for 11, but we'll see what we can get,'' said Smith, who spent three years as national boxing coach in Scotland.

''There's no reason why every member of the squad can't achieve a medal at the Games.

"I'm not claiming we'll win 11, but we are aiming for every boxer that goes there to win a medal, otherwise we wouldn't go."

Boxing Australia appointed Kevin Smith (right) as head coach along with Don Abnett as development coach last week ©Boxing Australia



A provisional Australian squad for the Games are currently training with the Scotland squad at the AIS with Smith set to name the final line-up shortly.

National champion Shelley Watts and the likes of London 2012 Olympian Jai Opetaia look set to be part of the squad for Glasgow, and Watts is looking forward to proving doubters wrong as she gets ready to take part in women's boxing at the Games for the first time.

''There's old boxing heads that still believe we shouldn't be there, but hopefully we get picked in the team and prove them wrong by bringing home some medals," said Watts.

"It gives us extra fuel and a bit of fire to show those who think we don't deserve to be there, that we do."

The boxing competition at Glasgow 2014 will see 10 men's weight categories and three women's contested at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre with the finals taking place at the SSE Hydro.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
May 2014: Olympic bronze medallist Kom misses out on place in Indian team at Glasgow 2014
May 2014: Selby and Evans set to be named to Welsh boxing squad for Glasgow 2014
April 2014: Benson secures last Team Scotland boxing slot for Glasgow 2014 with win over Law
August 2009: Australian's expect women's boxing to be included in 2012