Liam Smith sensationally took out Chris Eubank Jr within the fourth spherical of their middleweight contest set for twelve on the AO Enviornment in Manchester.
Smith had beforehand reigned as WBO tremendous welterweight champion in 2015/16, and he was on a run of three straight early wins after a contentious points loss to Magomed Kurbanov in Might 2021. Eubank hadn’t misplaced since February 2018, when George Groves outscored him in the identical area, and he was final out in February, taking a factors win in opposition to Liam Williams.
There had been a lot needle within the construct up, and after the standard preliminaries, it was right down to enterprise.
Smith landed with a well-timed proper hand within the first spherical, and he landed the extra eye-catching pictures within the opener. Eubank labored higher off his jab within the second, and it was a detailed spherical to attain, however Eubank bossed spherical three, going by means of a repertoire of punches. Few might foresee what was about to occur although, as within the fourth, Smith related with a giant uppercut that crumpled Eubank’s legs from beneath him.
He rose on unsteady legs, and it was debatable climate he must be allowed to proceed, however proceed he did, and Smith completed the job with a swift assault that compelled a second knockdown, and the referee referred to as a halt because the towel was about to be thrown in from Eubank’s coach, Roy Jones Jr.
WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED??!!!!! 🤯
SMITH STOPS EUBANK JR! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/anJzm9jHJX
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 21, 2023
Chris Eubank Jr’s proper eye 😮
You don’t play boxing ❌#Boxing #EubankJrSmith pic.twitter.com/HdElMioN8v
— Professional Boxing Followers (@ProBoxingFans) January 21, 2023
Riakporhe sweeps previous Glowacki
Richard Riakporhe moved nearer to a world title shot, as he stopped former world champion Krzysztof Glowacki within the fourth of their scheduled twelve rounder at cruiserweight.
A large proper hand within the second dipped the knees of Glowacki (32-4, 20 KOs), and Riakporhe (16-0, 12 KOs) was medical in his method.
🥊 @R_Riakporhe stops Glowacki in faster trend than @Lawrence_tko 👀
🔛 a collision course 📈#Boxing #RiakporheGlowacki #EubankJrSmith pic.twitter.com/2KpuKHqkgR
— Professional Boxing Followers (@ProBoxingFans) January 21, 2023
Within the fourth, a left hook to the physique of the Pole allowed the house favorite to open up with heavy pictures to the pinnacle, and, with Glowacki below heavy hearth, referee Howard Foster waved the competition off.
Essuman edges previous Kongo
Ekow Essuman added the WBC Worldwide Silver welterweight title to his British, Commonwealth and IBF European straps, as he took a majority resolution win in opposition to Chris Kongo (14-2, 7 KOs).
One decide had it a 114-114 draw, however was overruled by 116-113 and 115-114 verdicts for Essuman (19-0, 7 KOs).
Parker again to successful methods
Former world heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker returned to successful methods after a knockout defeat to Joe Joyce in his final combat, and the New Zealander took a factors win over ten in opposition to Jack Massey.
Massey (20-2, 11 KOs) was deducted a degree in spherical eight, and Parker (31-3, 21 KOs) took the win by scores of 97-93, 97-92 and 96-93.
Remaining Undercard
Frazer Clarke (5-0, 4 KOs) remained unbeaten, because the heavyweight hope compelled Kevin Nicolas Espindola (7-7, 2 KOs) to retire after the fourth spherical of a scheduled six rounds.
Additionally at heavyweight, Matty Harris (4-0, 3 KOs) wanted lower than a spherical to see off the overmatched Czech, Jiri Surmaj (3-3, 2 KOs).
Cruiserweight Scott Forrest (4-0, 3 KOs) went the space for the primary time, taking all six rounds in opposition to Amine Boucetta (7-6).
Frankie Stringer opened the present, and the 21-year-old picked up win quantity 4 with a factors win over 4 rounds at light-weight in opposition to the well-travelled Cristian Narvaez (16-52-6, 1 KO).
Stringer (4-0) received each spherical on the referee’s card.