Liam Smith dominates Jimmy Kelly in Manchester to retain WBO light-middleweight title

LIAM SMITH outclassed Jimmy Kelly to easily retain his WBO light-middleweight title.

 

Liam Smith dominated Liam Kelly to retain his WBO light-middleweight title in Manchester

 

The Liverpool fighter was a level above his opponent as he stopped him in the seventh round at Manchester Arena.

Smith, 27, put the WBO strap he won in October at the same venue on the line against the relatively unknown, but unbeaten, Kelly.

The first round was fairly competitive as the Manchester man – roared on by the home crowd – looked like he might be able to handle Smith’s aggression.

But from the second round onwards this was only going to be a win for the defending champion.

 

Smith piled on the pressure and in the third round was able to patiently wait for opportunities to open up before landing.

The first of the four fighting brothers to win a world title then hurt Kelly with a sickening body shot in the fifth.

Kelly – in just his 17^th professional bout – was in real trouble as he took powerful shots on the ropes.

He managed to survive the round, but any slim hope he had of delivering a huge upset evaporated in the sixth.

Kelly seemed frustrated as he tried to head-butt his opponent and referee Marcus McDonnell docked him two points for the blatant foul.

 

Kelly was knocked down in the seventh round by Smith and the fight was stopped

 

Smith moved in for the kill in the seventh as a big right hand over the top stunned Kelly.

The Manchester fighter – who had never been in a 12-round contest before – suffered a delayed reaction as he fell onto the ropes.

The referee did not deem it as a knockdown when he crumpled to the floor, but the bout did not last much longer.

Smith moved in to land another succession of right blows and the towel came into the ring from Kelly’s corner as the referee stepped between them.

The Liverpool fighter – who extended his record to 23 fights unbeaten - will be hoping for a step up in class in his next defence, but he looked impressive in dealing with his first challenger even if he was not a world-class opponent.