At the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Smith vs Mohoumadi was a short-lived, violent affair. Callum Smith annihilated European Super Middleweight champ Hadillah Mohoumadi in the 1st round. Credit where it’s due, Mohoumadi came to shatter the pre-fight script, going straight to Smith and blasting him immediately. But Smith covered up, patiently waited for an opening, and tagged an unloading Mohoumadi with a mean left hook.
Mohoumadi managed to recover from the knee-wobbling shot, but repeatedly paid the price every time he let his hands go. Smith, one of the Super Middleweight division’s most dangerous upcoming contenders, ended the night around the two-minute mark by unleashing a blistering, unanswered assault on his overwhelmed foe. The referee of course had no choice but to halt the beating by stepping in.
Smith now moves on to bigger fights at 168 pounds, with WBC champ Badou Jack likely in the frame for late 2016. Now that’s a salivating contest. Following another impressively calm, patient and devastating knockout – since Smith’s throttling of Rocky Fielding last November – Smith now bulks his record to 19 wins, no defeats, 14 knockouts. Hadillah Mohoumadi falls to 20 wins, 4 defeats, 1 draw, 15 knockouts.
Smith vs Mohoumadi Undercard
Tom Doran vs Luke Keeler
What. A. Fight. Middleweights Tom Doran and Luke Keeler kicked off the Smith vs Mouohmadi undercard with an absolute barnburner. Tom Doran derailed the senses of Keeler in the 2nd round, but it was hardly one-way traffic. After imposing himself with a strong jab in the opener, Keeler knocked down Doran with a monster right-hand outta’ nowhere. How Keeler picked himself up off the canvas, I’ve no idea.
After beating the count, Doran then tagged and almost dropped a marauding Keeler, adding to the drama. And not long after, following a furious exchange, Keeler hit the deck hard. He beat the count and, now with the score settled, both men staggered back to their corners. Following more back-and-forth, full-blooded exchanges in the 2nd, Doran’s sharper counters began to make their mark. Keeler delivered a crunching left-hook at mid-point of the round and Keeler went down again, only this time he was unable to withstand Doran’s assault.
Keeler was tagged clean by everything Doran threw, and was knocked down for the final time as the referee and white towel flew in. Tom Doran now rises to 17 wins, 1 defeat, 7 knockouts, while Luke Keeler falls to 10 wins, 2 defeat, 5 knockouts.
Scott Cardle vs Sean Dodd II
This sequel played out much like Scott Cardle and Sean Dodd’s original encounter – minus the Dodd knockout – last November. Once again, it was close down the stretch and filled with a few flip-a-coin rounds. But here at Boxing Base we had no problems scoring it 115-113 for Dodd.
While the official Draw verdict wouldn’t have caused major outrage in the boxing universe, the scorecards certainly seemed to spit in the face of Dodd, who fought a disciplined, more agggressive fight. Two judges saw it a forgivable 114-114, but the 116-114 tally to Cardle, who retains his British Lightweight title, really was disappointing to hear.
Cardle was elusive with his slippery head movement and mobility, but failed to make Dodd pay. No counters, no traps. Instead, Cardle relied on mostly singular blows while on the back foot, leaving Dodd to set the pace and force the action. Not a classic affair, but an intriguing enough contest between two domestic-level talents before headliner Smith vs Mouohmadi gets underway.
Scott Cardle now improves to 20 wins, 6 knockouts, while Dodd reduces to 10 wins, 3 defeats, 2 knockouts.
Rocky Fielding vs Christopher Rebrasse
Rocky Fielding survived his gut-check return bout against Christopher Rebrasse, surviving a nightmarish early stanza before rallying back to clock up a Split Decision. Fielding was quick out the gate, touching Rebrasse with plenty of leather, but was repeatedly nailed at close range. Fielding was shaken just before the bell to end the 2nd round, dropped off a right hand, and in serious trouble as he returned to his corner.
Fielding bit down on his gumshield and showed plenty of heart during the next few rounds, responding well to Rebrasse’s attacks, and rocking the Frenchman with a left-hook in the 3rd. But Rebrasse, being the rugged, relentless fighter he is, recovered well and soon got back to business. The second half of the encounter was full of bad intentions, but became a lot scrappier as the clinching began.
Fielding was completely spent by the time the 12th arrived, and had to latch on to his opponent to see the final bell. Which was a shame, considering Rebrasse was still game, with enough left in the tank to finish Fielding off. Final scores came in at 115-113, Rebrase and 114-113 (twice) for Fielding. Here at Boxing Base we saw it 114-113, Rebrasse, but a Draw would have been palatable.
Rocky Fielding now extends his record to 22 wins, 1 defeat, 12 knockouts, while Christopher Rebrasse falls to 24 wins, 5 defeats, 3 draws, 6 knockouts.
What are your thoughts on Smith vs Mohoumadi, plus the rest of the Matchroom Boxing card?
