By Steve Kim

Sources have advised BoxingScene.com that John Thompson has agreed to face Liam Smith in Manchester, England for the vacant WBO 154-pound belt on October 10th.

Thompson (17-1, 6 KO's) recently won the 2015 junior middleweight Boxcino tournament by defeating Brandon Adams in the finals by way of a second round TKO. Smith (20-0-1, 10 KO's) was originally slated to face Michel Soro for this title but Soro was unable to come to terms.

This title was held most recently by Demetrius Andrade who was stripped by the WBO for inactivity.

The October 10th card, promoted by Frank Warren, will be headlined by Andy Lee's defense of the WBO middleweight title against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.