Lee Selby stuns one-dimensional Stephen Smith

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

Welshman claims British and Commonwealth belts

Unheralded challenger Lee Selby successfully stepped up in class tonight to rip the British and Commonwealth featherweight belts from the previously unbeaten Stephen Smith in Liverpool.

The 24 year-old took the fight to Smith from the off and seemed to surprise the home fighter with his centre of the ring tactics. Smith seemed easy to hit all night and was coming forward shipping punches for the majority of the bout.

The end came in the eighth round as Smith, 26, walked on to a crunching uppercut that seem to connect on the side of the champions face and ‘Swifty’ was knocked unconscious to the canvas.

The Liverpudlian lay prone on the floor for several seconds after the fight was waived off but happily got to his feet and was able to walk from the ring.

Barry-born Selby now moves to 11-1 with only his third career knockout and will have former champion John Simpson, who fought and lost to Smith twice, knocking on his door for a shot at his old belt.

On the undercard, Prizefighter champion Rocky Fielding improved to 8-0 with a predictable points win over Paul Morby who drops to 6-8-1 and former British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith set up a potential challenge with current Lonsdale Belt holder George Groves in December by stopping Paul Samuels in the first to mimic Groves' performance against the Welshman.

There was also points wins for Paul Butler and Lewis Rees, whilst Stephen and Paul Smith's brother Liam scored the third stoppage of his career with a third round TKO win over Barrie Jones to move to 7-0-1.

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