Smith-Fowler running order and results
All the weights and running order ahead of tonight's action at the sold-out M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool topped by Liam Smith vs. Anthony Fowler, live worldwide on DAZN.
Tune in from 4:30pm to not miss a single minute of action:
16:30 BST LIVE ON BEFORE THE BELL
4 x 3 mins Super-Flyweight contest
BLANE HYLAND 117lbs
SANTIAGO SAN EUSEBIO 116lbs 6oz
Local lad Blane Hyland (5-1) opened the show with a 39-37 points victory over Frenchman Santiago San Eusebio (3-2-2, 2KOs).
6 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
ROBBIE DAVIES JR 143.5lbs
JONNY PHILLIPS 140lbs
Another Merseysider up next, as Robbie Davies Jr. (31-3, 14KOs) looks to bounce back from defeat in his last in February. He did just that with a fourth round stoppage at 2:28 over Jonny Phillips (5-8, 2KOs), who has lost seven fights in a row now but this was his first ever stoppage defeat.
8 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest
SOLOMON DACRES 227lbs 8oz
KAMIL SOKOLOWSKI 239lbs 8oz
'The Real Deal' Solomon Dacres moved up 3-0 with a sound 78-74 points win over the tough test that is Kamil Sokolowski (10-23-2, 4KOs).
10 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
LUKE WILLIS 134lbs 8oz
RYLAN CHARLTON 134lbs 8oz
Liverpool's Luke Willis is boxing perfectly in the opening rounds. He's landing lovely backhand lefts straight down the pipe of Rylan charlton who is overreaching because he can't get close enough to tricky southpaw. Just one KO from 10 outings, Willis doesn't have enough power behind his shots to get a stoppage, but he is countering so well on the backfoot and evading absolutely everything the 'Pint Size Powerhouse' has to offer.
In the middle rounds, Willis is caught with a couple of long reaching hooks and Charlton also manages to tie him up close a few times too. Willis has been fleet-footed throughout but Charlton is raining the pressure now, knowing he's a good few rounds behind on the scorecards. Willis continues to bounce around on his tows, circling from left to right, making Charlton miss constantly in round six. He's scoring sneaky shots all the time that's racking up each round in his favour. Rylan really tries to pressurise the home fighter but he can't get near him in this round.
The rounds got rougher from Rylan with increasing pressure, while Willis continued to get on his bike. Must be very frustrating for Charlton.
In round nine, Charlton was really looking for a big shot, but he was loading up too much and not landing, although the 30-year-old Liverpudlian was bleeding.
In the final round, Rylan 'The Matador' Charlton came out from his corner like a man possessed. The pair get tangled up in the ropes, then referee Steve Grey deducts a point from Willis for holding. Willis throws some big backhands back but continues to back up and dodge. He even lands a lovely let uppercut as Charlton wades forward. Then in the last 30 secnds he picks Charlton off and even ends the fight with a backhand flush. Clear win for Willis, Charlton's energy was admirable.
The scores were greeted with boos initially, when read aloud as 95-95 evens and 95-94 twice for the winner Luke Willis, who edges the English title eliminator on a majority decision despite looking like he won the contest quite comfortably.
19:00 BST LIVE ON DAZN
10 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
KIERON CONWAY 156lbs 2oz
JAMES METCALF 156lbs 8oz
Kieron Conway is the far bigger man in there. Metcalf looks more of a coiled spring with more power behind his punches, which is why he has 13 KOs from 21 victories.
'Too Class' is sharp and countering well but it's a close contest early doors, but Conway looks to be more successful in the start, managing to bounce a few crisp jabs and one-twos off JJ's head.
In round three, Conway is successful again in his attacks, which prompts Metcalf to launch forward in response. There's more exchanges in this round as the pair battle to gain control. A good body shot lands from 'Kid Shamrock' midway through the stanza. Still close, still hard to call.
Conway quick out the traps in round four, but cops a right hand back with his hands down. Conway looks better in the exchanges and uses his reach advantage well with double jab-right hand combinations. JJ throws then gets caught back with a right hand. In the final minute they go head to head and Conway snaps back Metcalf's head with a right uppercut but it doesn't do any damage. Conway looks in control from this round.
Metcalf's jab is still landing strong, but Conway's double jabs are more eye-catching. Metcalf unloads but gets countered with a swift left hook. Metcalf needs to trap Conway on the ropes and unload but he doesn't and he's waiting too long to work. Conway's stiff double jabs have been the story of the fight so far.
Left hand lands heavily in the opening seconds of round six for Metcalf. Conway too quick on his feet to be held in trouble. A lot less action in this round unfortunately, although Conway ends the three minutes section with a good right uppercut.
The 25-year-old from Northampton begins the seventh stanza lively. Metcalf tries to turn the bout into a dog fight, knowing he's being outboxed. It's a close contest but Conway must have most of the rounds in the bag right now.
Metcalf is really upping the pressure but Conway responds confidently. The 33-year-old Merseysider senses he's behind and tries to rough his opponent up.
In the final round, it's a real shootout, the pair exchange in close quarters. Metcalf closes the gap quickly both are now cut and bleeding. It's a real battle, exciting stuff in the last stanza as they both let their hands go. Great finish! Really exciting last round, but Conway should take this.
Scores of 96-94, 96-95, 96-95 for the winner by unanimous decision Kieron Conway.
10 x 2 mins WBA Bantamweight World Title
SHANNON COURTENAY 120lbs 8oz
JAMIE MITCHELL 117lbs 8oz
Jamie Mitchell is leaving nothing to chance here. She's got the opportunity to leave here as a world champion and she knows it.
20 seconds to go in round six, Mitchell lands a clean right hand but with no real power.
Courtenay is trailing 59-55 on Tony Bellew's scorecards.
Courtenay is slow and laboured and missing badly. She's on the front foot but not imposing or aggressive so there's little point. There's somethig missing with Courtenay in this fight, a lack of aggression, sharpness and passion.
Courtenay got tagged clean with a right hand in the corner from Mitchell. Every shot from Courtenay misses wildly until the pair exchange in the last 30 seconds which enthuses Courtenay to pour forward.
Mitchell flew out the traps in round nine, trapping Courtenay on the ropes. Mitchell is well ahead, so it's baffling as to what Courtenay is thinking here as she is well beaten.
Last round, Courtenay scores a couple o clean jabs to start with. Nice work from Courtenay to start with but Mitchell lands back. The bell sounds and the home fighter is well beaten.
Mitchell inevitably wins the contest while Courtenay makes a big show of disbelief at the result, which is comical considering how easily outpointed she was – the scores were 94-96, 93-97 and unwelcomed judge Jesus Morata Garcia from Spain had it bizarrely as 95-95 – thanks, but don't come again.
6 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
PETER MCGRAIL 127lbs 2oz
ED HARRISON 128lbs 8oz
Olypian Peter McGrail makes his debut and Ed Harrison is straight out the traps showing no respect. McGrail gets straight on the front foot and lands solid left hands to the body.
In round two, McGrail has Harrison on the ropes and piles the pressure on in his debut. McGrail has the Everton Red Triangle ethos of piling forward agressively. His footwork is sublime!
The only person to ever stop Harrison is Andrew Cain, who is McGrail's teammate.
McGrail's movement is the reason why he's been nicknamed 'The Liverpool Lomachenko'.
The pair end round five exchanging. It's hard to look good against such a negative opponent.
Final round and McGrail starts with a good uppercut followed by a sweet body shot which saw Harrison in trouble.
The fight goes the distance with Everton Red Triangle's McGrail winning 60-54.
12 x 3 mins British Super-Welterweight Title
TED CHEESEMAN 153lbs
TROY WILLIAMSON 153lbs 2oz
Williamson has had a stong start in this contest.
The fight began with both boxers pounding each other to the body at close range. The fight pretty much continued in that manner, with the two boxers trading shots at close range. Williamson had the edge and was outlanding Cheeseman with the bigger punches.
In the fifth, the face of Cheeseman was swelling and a cut opened up below the left eye.
During the sixth, Cheeseman was giving as good as he was getting, with both landing very heavy blows. At the end of the seventh, Williamson was hurt bad by a combination of shots, but managed to survive.
Cheeseman senses an early finish in round seven after a rough start where he was wobbed by a left hook but the bell saves Williamson. What a fight!
Cheeseman pours on pressure in round eight. Williamson fires back at thhe end of the round but Cheeseman roars into life to better his attack.
Williamson lands a nice right, Cheeseman slips. Williamson on the attack in round nine, Cheeseman backed up. Williamson looking good, Cheeseman firing back on the ropes. Cheeseman lands a right uppercut in the final second of the round. Good round for Williamson.
In round 10, Troy Williamson has Cheeseman against the ropes then Williamson landed several massive shots to send him down hard and finish the contest.
12 x 3 mins WBA International Super-Welterweight Title
LIAM SMITH 154lbs
ANTHONY FOWLER 153lbs 2oz
It was exactly how a local derby should be – full of thrills and spills as Liam Smith floored Anthony Fowler twice to he ruthlessly stop his Liverpudlian rival in the eighth round.
Smith, a former WBO super-welterweight champion, displayed his superior experience against Fowler, who climbed off the canvas in the fifth round, but referee Howard Foster waved it off after he was dropped again at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
As expected, Fowler started brightly but it was a big right hand in the fifth that sent 'The Machine' crashing to the canvas, and the 30-year-old staggered throughout the remainder of the round.
Fowler tried to stand firm in the sixth, unloading a decent left hook, but Smith dramatically signalled the ending in the eighth.
Smith keeps his world title ambitions alive; it's difficult to see where Fowler goes from here.
Use the code BBN for 10% off all purchases at Fit-Bag
HÖRFA Menswear are proud sponsors of British Boxing News