Boxing In Britain: Smith, Brook, Bellew Win In Liverpool

ByRicky Jones

Last night at the Liverpool Echo Arena, British super middleweight ruled Paul Smith retained his belt in a hard fought battle while British welterweight champion Kell Brook added the WBO Intercontinental strap to his trophy cabinet, while becoming the mandatory challenger for the WBO title, currently held by Manny Pacquiao.

Smith squared off against former champion Tony Dodson in a hotly anticipated all-Liverpool clash that turned into a bloody scrap from the very first round.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games hero was cut above both eyes and in the scalp by accidental head clashes with Dodson in the early going but made adjustments and took control on the bout behind superior boxing skills.

After the 12th and final frame, Smith was awarded a unanimous points decision by marks of 117-112, 116-111 and 115-112, moving to 29-1 (15), while Dodson falls to 24-6-1 (12).

23 year old Sheffield based Brook faced Polish stylist Krzysztof Bienias, who won the WBO Intercontinental crown a year ago with a stoppage of Sven Paris in Italy.

Bienias had previously challenged for the European light welter crown twice, including his sole appearance in England, losing to Junior Witter by second round stoppage in 2004.

Since that time the 30 year old from Warsaw had won 17 straight bouts but ran into a higher caliber of opponent last night in Liverpool.

Brook, 21-0 (14), was simply too fast for Bienias, showing the form that had won four consecutive British title bouts, all within the distance, against good domestic opposition.

“The Kid” is now in a position to fight for the WBO welterweight title, which champion Pacquiao defends this evening against Joshua Clottey in the American city of Dallas, TX.

Local slugger Tony Bellew, 13-0 (9), graduated from prospect to Commonwealth champion as the light heavyweight stopped Ghana’s Atoli Moore, 4-1 (2), who at just 5 foot 6, was giving up an eight inch height advantage to Bellew.

Ex-WBO cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli, 31-4 (24), continued on the comeback trail, winning his second bout in a row by stopping Hungarian import Zoltan Czekus, 8-3-1 (4), in the first round.

Local super feather prospect Stephen Smith, 10-0 (6), also stopped his opponent, Welsh southpaw Jason Thomas, 7-27-3 (2), in the first.