At the O2 Arena, London, fans of Liverpool’s Liam Smith had to grit their teeth for 5 rounds as the domestic favorite was mostly out-boxed by a considerably taller John Thompson.
But after a very lively 6th, which saw Smith pick up the pace and aggression, landing several cracking power shots, the tables turned in the Liverpudlian’s favor. Smith immediately swarmed Thompson in the 7th, and knocked his man face down on the canvas following a crunching right-hand. The referee soon waved off the contest.
For what it’s worth, I had this one at 58-56 for Thompson going into the 7th.
Smith now picks up the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight title and extends his record to 21-0-1, 11 KO. Thompson returns to the US with 17-2, 6 KO. Great appetiser before headliner Flanagan vs Magdaleno gets underway.
Smith vs Thompson Round by Round
Round 1: Thompson throwing out the jab, clearly possesses the longer reach. Four inches taller to boot. Thompson keeping his man thinking, catching Smith with a few left-hooks. Nothing telling. Thompson, 10-9
Round 2: Good jab from Thompson. Smith gets a hard right in. Thompson gets in an uppercut-straight combo. They smile. Livening up here. Smith looking for counters, Thompson keeping the jab out there. Thompson nicks it, 10-9
Round 3: Thompson gets some leather on Smith. Smith grazes his man with a couple of right-hands. Smith looking to cut the ring off. Smith lands a solid hook in closing seconds. Smith, 10-9
Round 4: Right-hand from Thompson. Thompson tagging Smith with plenty of shots, Smith getting frustrated. Very competitive fight on our hands. Smith trying to cut off the ring and catch Thompson on the ropes. Smith right-hand at bell. Thompson, 10-9
Round 5: Thompson jabbing. Smith trying to pin Thompson down, struggling at the moment. Thompson quick on his feet, elusive. Thompson unloads straight combination. Smith grins. Thompson, 10-9 (49-46)
Round 6: Solid left-hook from Smith. And another. Thompson rides it well, fires right back. Smith jab. Action firing up. A fight is breaking out. Smith chasing his man down. Hooks doing damage. Right-hook. Thompson on wobbly legs. Big round for Smith, 10-9 (58-56)
Round 7: Smith goes straight to Thompson, knocking him about the ring. On uneasy legs now. Smith senses victory. Thompson goes down off a huge right-hand, out flat on his face. Referee waves it off!
Result: Smith wins via 7th round TKO
Boxing Base Scorecard: 58-56, Thompson
Give us your take on Smith vs Thompson in the comments, plus the rest of the Flanagan vs Magdaleno card.
