Dalton Smith produces stunning stoppage against Sam Maxwell
Dangerous Dalton Smith knocked out Sam Maxwell in round seven to add the Commonwealth super lightweight title to the British belt he won outright in a dominant performance at Sheffield's Utilita Arena.
Hometown favourite Smith moved to 15-0 (11 KOs) against former Team GB amateur Maxwell (17-2, 11 KOs), with his regular activity over the course of a breakout year paying dividends as he was the sharper fighter throughout.
A clash of heads in round five left Smith with a nasty cut around his right eye. Thankfully for the 26-year-old, the bleeding did not obscure his vision and he put his foot down to secure a highlight-reel stoppage.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, Smith made an assertive start. Maxwell was reeling briefly against the ropes after a solid right hand and the visitors’ face was marked up at the end of the first.
A peach of a right uppercut and a booming overhand shot from the same wing kept Smith on the front foot in round two before some belated encouragement for Maxwell in the next session.
Smith sent home a crunching short left hook during the closing moments of round three only for the Liverpudlian to land with a superb counter right hand.
Maxwell was evidently bothered by eye damage as Smith continued to enjoy the better of the close-quarters exchanges, although the British champion suffered a far more dramatic cut when they clashed heads accidentally in five.
That setback brought increased urgency to Smith’s work and the sixth was punishing for Maxwell as the Sheffield favourite waded through a mask of blood to shake his opponent to his boots.
The end came dramatically in the next stanza. The heavy right hand Smith had been landing all night thudded into Maxwell’s temple after a jab set up the opening. Maxwell’s legs crumpled beneath him and referee Kevin Parker waved off the contest after one minute and 34 seconds of the round.
On the undercard, Hopey Price — who was named among in Boxing's 25 under 25 by The Sporting News this week — moved to 11-0 with a controlled win over James Beech Jr on his first venture up to featherweight. Beech Jr was pulled out by his trainer after seven rounds of the scheduled 10.
Another former amateur standout, Pat McCormack made it five wins out of five in the paid ranks as he dominated Tony Dixon in an eye-catching display. Dixon was dropped heavily towards the end of round four and, when he returned to his stool, the Welshman's corner decided they had seen enough.
Full Results
Dalton Smith bt. Sam Maxwell (KO 7/12) to unify the British and Commonwealth super lightweight titles
Pat McCormack bt. Tony Dixon (RTD 4/10); super welterweights
Hopey Price bt. James Beech Jr (RTD 7/10); featherweights
Lewis Sylvester bt. Adam Cope (UD 10) to win the vacant English lightweight title
Beatriz Ferreira bt. Karla Ramos Zamora (PTS 8); super featherweights
Junaid Bostan bt. Ryan Amos (PTS 8); super welterweights
Cory O'Regan bt. Jordan Ellison (PTS 6); lightweight
Nico Leivars bt. Alberto Motos (PTS 6); super bantamweights
Article sponsored by HÖRFA