Dalton Smith saved his unbeaten document with a nasty fifth spherical knockout win over veteran Jose Zepeda, ending the previous world title challenger with a physique shot in Sheffield, England.
Smith (16-0, 12 KO) began tentative within the opening spherical particularly, and considerably into the second, however “gradual” begins are nothing new for the 27-year-old hometown favourite, and as soon as he began discovering a rhythm and throwing punches, it was Zepeda (37-5, 28 KO) who started to look steadily over-matched and one-dimensional.
The 34-year-old Mexican, who has now misplaced two straight and his final three fights towards related opposition, two by stoppage, was relying primarily on his energy left hand from the southpaw stance, however Smith began to get that scouted higher and Zepeda simply wasn’t mixing issues up offensively.
Smith started to land extra critical blows, however the physique shot was just about a one-hitter quitter, as Zepeda stayed down for the rely. That ought to just about put an finish to the concept of Zepeda as a professional contender within the 140 lb division, and it provides Smith a stable notch on the belt for the place he’s career-wise, one other take a look at handed and one other rung up the ladder.
Within the chief help, Sandy Ryan fairly nicely thrashed Terri Harper to retain her WBO welterweight title, with Harper’s nook pulling her from the combat after 4 rounds that didn’t seem like they had been going to get any higher than they’d been.
Harper (14-2-2, 6 KO) did not win a world title in a 3rd division with this defeat, having performed so prior at 130 and 154. Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KO) simply demolished her, actually, and Harper’s nook had been proper to cease the combat, with the fighter not arguing a lot.
“I respect her massively and she or he is aware of that,” Ryan mentioned after the combat. “I simply began to place the stress on and after I may see her fading, I believed, ‘There’s no method I’m taking the again foot right here.’”
Jimmy Joe Flint denied Campbell Hatton within the latter’s first regional title try, retaining the BBBofC’s Central Space tremendous light-weight title with a choice win on scores of 97-95, 97-94, and 98-92.
Flint improves to 14-1-2 (3 KO), whereas Hatton falls to 14-1 (5 KO) together with his first professional defeat.
“I say nicely performed to Campbell. Pay attention, little question he’ll come once more,” Flint mentioned. “Nice fighter, younger child, he’ll be again and I can put my life on that. Expertise (received the combat).”
“He got here on robust within the second half and confirmed his expertise,” Hatton mentioned. “I do suppose I did sufficient, however no arguments from me, honest play to him. We simply study, don’t we?”
Extra outcomes
Ishmael Davis UD-12 Troy Williamson (116-112, 116-112, 117-111)
Nico Leivars KO-9 Piotr Mirga (1:32)
