At the Olympia, Liverpool, Stephen Smith put in a solid, dominating performance against Devis Boschiero. Smith knocked down his foe five times en route to a 6th round stoppage.
Boschiero earned his money tonight without question, but guts and bravery weren’t enough to get the job done against a quality operator like Smith. Boschiero (37-3-1, 19 KO) managed to keep Smith on his toes, but was quite simply beaten by the better man.
Smith (23-1, 12 KO) looked powerful, poised, and had a motive behind every shot he threw. Which would have caught the attention of watchful eyes. A sustained body attack was Smith’s bread and butter throughout, with two left-hooks downstairs finally stopping his man in the 6th.
This was a fine performance from Smith, but it’s a little premature to start calling him world class, even though this was an IBF Junior Lightweight title eliminator. Let’s remember Smith was the taller, bigger, stronger, younger fighter here, after all.
That said, you can’t knock his ring generalship and punch selection. The counter right-hook that knocked down Boschiero in the 2nd round was a peach of a shot, indeed. Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, Smith’s promoter, will now be knocking on the door of Jose Pedraza (20-0, 12 KO), hoping for a shot at the Puerto Rican’s IBF crown.
And an influential businessman like Hearn should have no trouble making that fight.
Smith vs Boschiero Round by Round
Round 1: Smith on the jab. Boschiero to the body, looking for a left-hook upstairs. Both men opening up, Smith to the body, Boschiero looking to land upstairs. Boschiero’s shoelace needs retying. Smith looking the sharper fighter here. Boschiero taking too many body shots. Smith, 10-9
Round 2: Boschiero hot out the gate, Smith ties him up. Boschiero continues the attack. Smith drops Boschiero with a counter right-hook. Boschiero beats the count, dropped again. Beats the count. Boschiero hanging in there, gets in a sneaky left-hook upstairs. Boschiero on wobbly legs now, hurt by every shot from Smith. Smith digging to the body. Smith, 10-7, (20-16)
Round 3: Boschiero lands low, gets a warning from referee. Smith bossing the action, but Boschiero comes back with a handful of solid straight punches. Finding his way back into fight. Tough customer. Smith beating his man to the punch, finding more success during exchanges. Boschiero finds the chin of Smith. Smith, 10-9 (30-25)
Round 4: Smith starting to turn on pressure, letting his hands go more. But still economical. Gets in an uppercut. Boschiero left eye closing up. Boschiero takes a knee. Smith unloading now, hook after hook. Doctor has a look, lets it go on. Smith, 10-9 (40-33)
Round 5: Smith dominating, but Boschiero is still in this fight – just. Wings in some telling punches. Boschiero has earned his money tonight. Smith gets back to bossing action, body shots, hooks, hurting Boschiero. Smith, 10-9 (50-42)
Round 6: Boschiero lands a registering right-hand. Smith ties him up. Smith gets back to boxing. Boschiero dropped from a left-hook to the body, beats count, but is immediately dropped again. Referee waves it off.
Result: Smith wins via 6th round TKO
Boxing Base Scorecard: 50-42 (going into 6th)
Give us your take on Smith vs Boschiero in the comments, plus the rest of the card, fight fans.
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