• Adam Smith was diagnosed with an ‘aggressive’ form of bladder cancer in 2023
  • After 30 years with Sky, he made a major return to ringside last week in Saudi
  • He opened up on his tough recovery process and journey back to commentary

By YASEEN ZAMAN

Adam Smith has opened up on his heart-breaking health issues, after he was diagnosed with an ‘aggressive’ form of bladder cancer in 2023. 

The ‘Voice of Boxing’ had a CT scan and a biopsy which revealed a large tumour in his bladder wall.

He was told that he was ‘about four days’ away from death, as doctors feared that his kidneys would fail.

A six-hour emergency operation saw 19 lymph nodes removed from his body, as well as his bladder and prostrate. This was followed by three and a half months of chemotherapy, which led to his miraculous recovery.

Since leaving Sky after 30 years, Smith returned to commentate on his first major TV fight with DAZN, in Oleksandr Usyk’s blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury last week.

‘Whether it is calling a four-round fight between two debutants or a world title fight, I love it all and am grateful to be doing such a job, if you can really call it a job,’ he told DAZN.

Adam Smith returned to commentate on Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Tyson Fury last Saturday

Last year, the veteran commentator recovered from an 'aggressive' form of bladder cancer

Last year, the veteran commentator recovered from an ‘aggressive’ form of bladder cancer

After leaving Sky, he has remained busy with various freelance projects and charity ventures

After leaving Sky, he has remained busy with various freelance projects and charity ventures

‘The cancer was brutal, it has been very difficult to fight this disease.

‘I had some very dark times and my body has been through hell.

‘My doctors saved me, my family brought me back. I had three-and-a-half lonely months in hospital undergoing treatment.

‘I was very lucky to make it through. I am very lucky to be alive and I have a different perspective on life after what happened to me.

‘I wake up in the morning and I am happy, I am not stressed. I am just delighted to have another day.’

Smith now volunteers at a foodbank in west London and has also raised money for Blood Cancer UK.

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Legendary boxing commentator opens up on heartbreaking cancer battle that left him ‘four days away from death’

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