At the Manchester Arena, UK, Liam Smith finished business in dramatic fashion once again, but got more than he bargained for against a very game and capable Jimmy Kelly. Which, you know, considering this was billed as an absolute mismatch, was easy to embrace.
Smith successfully defended his WBO Junior Middleweight title on the Lee vs Saunders undercard, crushing Kelly in the 7th round. Smith now improves to 22 wins, no defeats, 1 draw, 12 knockouts, while Kelly drops to 16 wins, 1 defeat, 8 knockouts.
Kelly, the taller, rangier fighter, put his assets to good use, pumping out the jab, and scoring with some tasty combinations. It got the champ’s attention in the early rounds, which were almost too close to call. But Smith, being the brute his is, turned up the heat and began to break down his unheralded opponent in the rounds that followed.
By the 6th, Kelly was becoming unstuck and showing signs of wilting, and responded by headbutting Smith. The referee administered further punishment to Kelly by docking two points from the Mancunian, but really, the scorecards mattered little at that point (Boxing Base had it 58-54 following the butt). In the 7th, Smith closed the show, nailing his man with a torrid assault which resulted in Kelly slumping down the ropes to the canvas.
Kelly beat the count, but following another barrage of punches, saw his corner throw in the towel. And it was the right decision without doubt.
Lee vs Saunders Undercard
Tommy Langford vs Robert Swierzbinski
Tommy Langford wasn’t in with a serious threat tonight, but he did look nicely refined as he systematically blasted and took apart Poland’s Robert Swierzbinski in 5 rounds. Swierzbinski was overmatched without question, but proved his durability by climbing off the deck in the 2nd round (count not given), and twice more in the 4th.
The referee rightly showed his mercy soon in the 5th, saving the visitor from unnecessary further punishment. Langford may not be a puncher on paper, but his brute strength is undeniable. Langford now climbs to 15 wins, no defeats, 4 knockouts, while Swierzbinski falls to 15 wins, 5 defeats, 1 draw, 3 knockouts.
Jack Catterall vs Noe Nunez Rodriguez
Jack Catterall was well matched with Noe Nunez Rodriguez, having to work hard for the first two rounds. Both men landed their fair share of power punches, but Catterall found the fight-changing blow in the 3rd, quickly finishing off a hurt Rodriguez with a barrage of punches before the referee stepped in. This was a decent step up in class for Catterall, who is gradually climbing the ranks.
Catterall now builds to 14 wins, no defeats, 9 knockouts, while Rodriguez returns to Mexico with 15 wins, 3 defeats, 1 draw, 12 knockouts.
Mitchell Smith vs George Jupp
Mitchell Smith may have been writing off unheralded George Jupp all week, but all the insults, slurs, and knockout predictions couldn’t have been more unwarranted. Jupp utilized his taller frame and longer reach to great effect, outboxing his rival en route to a Unanimous Decision. Final scorecards came in at 94-96, 93-97 and 94-98. Here at Boxing Base we saw the action 94-96.
There were a fair few close rounds in this one, but there’s nothing controversial about the outcome. Smith put on a good show, working the body well and rocking his foe a couple of times, but it was Jupp who appeared to be the superior operator, boxing well at range.
So there it is, the first upset of the evening. Smith now drops to 13 wins, 1 defeat, 7 knockouts, while Jupp rises to 13 wins, 2 defeats, 4 knockouts.
Paul Butler vs Silvio Olteanu
Paul Butler impressed on the Lee vs Saunders support, outboxing and dominating a very tough, courageous Silvio Olteanu. Butler put his greater variety to good use, showcasing his speedy counters and calculated aggression as he took the fight to the visitor. Olteanu was rocked on a few occasions but, credit where it’s due, kept on coming back to return fire.
Butler wrapped up the affair in the 6th, dropping Olteanu with a left hand, and followed it up with another blistering assault. Olteanu complained when the referee dove in, but really, this was a fight he had little chance of winning. Butler now improves to 20 wins, 1 defeat, 11 knockouts, picking up the European Junior Bantamweight title in the process, while Olteanu falls to 15 wins, 9 defeats, 1 draw, 6 knockouts.
Liam Williams vs Kris Carslaw
Rising talent Liam Williams made quick work of Kris Carslaw, bullying and dropping his foe courtesy of a body shot in the opener, and scoring a heavy knockout in the 2nd. The fight-ending punch in question was a jab – the same which shook Kevin Mitchell to his boots last weekend. Williams looks to be the real deal, picking his shots well, and is one of Wales’ hottest prospects on the Junior Middleweight scene.
Williams now leaves Manchester with the British and Commonwealth straps, extending his record to 13 wins, no defeats, 1 draw, 8 knockouts. Carslaw falls to 22 wins, 6 defeats, 5 knockouts.
Give us your take on the Lee vs Saunders undercard in the comments, fight fans.
