Callum Smith made history in becoming the fourth brother to pick up a British title after a stunning first round stoppage of Rocky Fielding at the Echo Arena on Saturday night.
Advertisement
The raucous crowd watched on as the youngest of the Smith family reduced his previously unbeaten challenger to rumble, with a performance of such ferocity that will have the rest of the super middleweight division looking over their shoulders. The physical and mental effects of the shot etched all over his face as he received the mandatory 8 count.
What followed was a moment of brilliance that encapsulated the talent Smith possesses.
Undefeated Smith and Fielding both tipped the scales at 11st 13lbs for the encounter at Liverpool Dockland’s Echo Arena and looked in top shape for their imminent Merseyside Derby.
But more importantly confirmed he is destined for World honours and on this evidence, it is just around the corner.
“I said in the build-up and it came across as arrogant that I was the better fighter but I showed it tonight”.
Crolla has been side-by-side with Smith through the Liverpool man’s camp as he prepares for his rematch with WBA World Lightweight champion Darleys Perez in Manchester on November 21, and “Million Dollar” says while Fielding has improved, Smith is a World champion in the making. “Rocky is in the way of that and I have a job to do”. “I am doing everything right at the minute and I do think 2016 is the year I can become a world champion”.
The fight has also taken on an added spice given the war of words between the two trainers, and Joe Gallagher and Oliver Harrison exchanged a few more pleasantries after their fighters had broken off from their head-to-head. I have no doubts that Burns will beat King and get his world title shot against Flanagan, but I don’t think Burns will do well at all.
I hate to say it, but that’s not going to happen. “I think I benefit from having three brothers all fighting at a good level”. He keeps talking about his power if that’s the only way he thinks he can win then so be it, but I think he is reading too much into that. It was one punch that changed the game and I think with me and him, it was just a case of who landed first.
Advertisement
“He will push on now but I know I’ll be back”. I recouped a bit and I thought I caught him but hats off, he is a big Super Middleweight and he caught me. I still believe I am still in the mix of things. Vera had lost nine times before then and had lost his last three going into the fight. “That’s not the end of me, no chance”.
