Former world champion Liam Smith set for return against unbeaten Kujala

Former world champion Liam Smith is scheduled to return to boxing on Friday, September 4, against unbeaten Finnish middleweight Ilari Kujala. The fight is set for the Varuboden Areena in Kirkkonummi, Finland, as part of an Elite Boxing event.

Smith, 38, has not fought since losing a points decision to Aaron McKenna in April 2025. The defeat extended a difficult run for the Liverpudlian, who is now seeking his first victory since stopping Chris Eubank Jr in the fourth round in 2023.

The former WBO super-welterweight champion won that belt in 2015 and made two successful defences. His reign ended with a ninth-round stoppage loss to Canelo Alvarez. Smith later moved close to another world-title opportunity at 154 pounds, but Jaime Munguia beat him by unanimous decision in 2018.

Smith then suffered a setback in the rematch with Eubank Jr, being stopped in the 10th round. He followed that result with the defeat by McKenna, who is now the IBF world middleweight champion. Those losses led to speculation that Smith could be nearing retirement.

Kujala presents an unbeaten record, with the Finnish boxer listed at 12-0. He has not yet recorded a notable professional victory, although he has competed at international amateur tournaments. Fighting in his home country, he will also occupy the home corner in Kirkkonummi.

A win could revive interest in a domestic meeting between Smith and Denzel Bentley. Bentley is now the full WBO middleweight champion after being upgraded last month, following Janibek Alimkhanuly’s move to the 168-pound division while serving a year-long doping suspension. Bentley had secured the interim belt with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and is weighing options for his first defence.