At the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Smith vs Radosevic was predictably uncompetitive as expected, ending inside two one-way traffic rounds. Smith grinned throughout the three minutes and change as he landed the more vicious, telling power shots, with his shots to the mid-section registering with his Montenegro-based challenger.
Smith, who made the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight title, saved himself from any unnecessary overtime by knocking down Radosevic in the 2nd, with a body shot keeping his overmatched foe on the deck for the count. Smith now bulks his unblemished slate to 23 wins, no defeats, 1 draw, 13 knockouts, while Radosevic reduces to 30 wins, 2 defeats, 11 knockouts.
Given the lackluster matchmaking behind this apparent title defense, it’s hardly worth getting all analytical here. Smith was economical, picked his shots well – and was as nasty and eager to induce pain as he usually is – but it was hard to ever imagine him struggling with an off-the-grid outsider like Radosevic, who seemed like a step-down from Jimmy Kelly and John Thompson.
Smith is an exciting fighter who clearly loves to engage and please the crowd, but let’s hope his next challenger is capable of asking some more questions.
Smith vs Radosevic Undercard
Tete vs Ruiz
Zolani Tete made easy work of Victor Ruiz, stopping his undersized and overmatched opponent inside 7 rounds. Tete put in a highly economical, unrushed performance, dominating the Bantamweight action from the opening bell by pushing Ruiz back and punishing him with hard left leads until a body shot produced a knockdown in the 7th, prompting the referee to step in and show mercy.
The stoppage was perhaps a little early, but Ruiz would’ve needed a miracle to pull off the win tonight. Tete now improves to 24 wins, 3 defeats, 20 knockouts, while Ruiz falls to 21 wins, 6 defeats, 15 knockouts.
Farrag vs Guerfi
This was a good, evenly matched contest on paper, and it played out that way until things got awfully real for promising upstart Ryan Farrag in the 2nd round of his European Bantamweight title defense. Farrag edged the methodical power exchanges in the opener, but Karim Guerfi soon found his range in the 2nd and gained a dangerous amount of confidence after finding Farrag’s chin with a few heavy right hands.
Guerfi poured on the pressure in the 3rd, showcasing a lot more TNT potency than his record would suggest he was capable of. Guerfai unloaded a barrage of punches on a rope-bound Farrag, with a crunching left hook leaving the favorite spread eagle, face-down. Farrag bravely beat the count, but his senses had clearly left town, leaving the referee no choice but to wave off the contest. Guerfi now extends his record to 24 wins, 3 defeats, 7 knockouts, while Farrag falls to 15 wins, 2 defeats, 4 knockouts.
Stalker vs Bento
Thomas Stalker had too much speed and class for Antonio Joao Bento, outworking his Portuguese foe en route to a Unanimous Decision. Ringside tallies came in at 99-90 and 100-89 twice for the Lightweight 10-rounder. Bento, who suffered a nasty cut on his left eye from an accidental head butt and was dropped in the 6th, deserves a lot of credit for coming on strong in the second half of the fight. Bento had plenty of heart, but not enough talent and technical ability to deal with his superior opposition, however.
Stalker was the taller, rangier man, and did a good job of keeping Bento at range for much of the 10-rounder, connecting with flashy combinations. Stalker could have perhaps got this guy out of there quicker if he had sat down on his shots a little more, but hey, this was a decent win at European level (well, of sorts), so credit where it’s due.
Stalker now moves up to 11 wins, 1 defeat, 3 draws, 2 knockouts, while Bento reduces to 30 wins, 16 defeats, 2 draws, 18 knockouts.
Give us your take on Smith vs Radosevic in the comments, plus the rest of the Liverpool card.
