Chris Eubank Jr. dominates, Settles score with Beefy Smith.
The son of the former middleweight legend got his revenge in Manchester tonight as Chris Eubank Sr flipped the Script on "Beefy" Liam Smith, stopping Smith in 10 largely one-sided rounds. Euban moved his record to 33-3 (24), while Smith fell to 33-4-1 (20). Smith finished off Eubank in the same ring, in the same venue, back in January in the fourth round, so it was fitting that Eubank changed the tides and perhaps saved his career in the fourth round, dropping Smith in the fourth round of their rematch with a well-placed uppercut. Smith, who turned an ankle, moved on the injured wheel but was noticeably favoring the lead foot. Eubank appeared too quick for Beefy, scoring with precise combinations throughout the scheduled 12-rounder. He became someone a static target while Eubank teed off on Smith. The end came 1:45 into the 10th round as referee Kevin Parker saw enough after a ferocious barrage of power shots landed flush on Smith and dropped him for a second and final time. The bout was shortly waved by referee Kevin Parker, saving an adamant Smith from further punishment. The sprained ankle did seem to affect the movement of Smith, who is now 35. Eubank called out legendary middleweight Gennady Golovkinafter the fight, but perhaps a rubber match is in the cards for the pair.
In a less-than-entertaining undercard, Adam Azim showed that he was a level ahead of Ukrainian opponent Aram Faniian but probably not a future world champion. In a one-sided, but not particularly thrilling affair, Azim moved to 9-0 (6) but showed no urgency and an inability to get an outmatched opponent out. Azim has no shortage of skills and dominated the 10-round affair with scores of 100-90, 99-91,98-92. The 21-year-old from Berkshire UK stuck to mostly single shots and seemed content with running out the clock.
2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist Fraze Clarke had an interesting night with Dave Allen. All's well that ends well for Clarke, I suppose, who moved on to 8-0 (6) in what was not his most spectacular performance and was mere inches and moments away from ending in a DQ loss due to very close and questionable low blows. The messy affair eventually ended in his sixth KO in eight rights as Allen quit on his stool after the sixth round. The Olympian's performance was largely underwhelming in offensive terms. Uk fan-friendly slugger Allen kept his hands in his pockets for most of the scheduled 10-rounder. However, he had success when he did open up and scored with a long winging overhand right that dented and marked up the face of Clarke' "Big Fraze" was taking the rounds but giving them back as he continued to hit Allen on and around the beltline on the EXTREMELY high cup of Allen. After having two points deducted for low blows. Clarke landed another one south of the border. It appeared that would be the night, and Allen would be awarded the DQ win. However, the ref decided to give Clarke another warning. The Olympic Medalist scored with a clean combination just before the bell, and that was enough for Allen, who would not answer the bell.
