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

<div style="text-align: justify;"> LIAM SMITH outclassed Jimmy Kelly to easily retain his WBO light-middleweight title. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJxvkmBiD-ltxKGIRAFpupfrp2gEIJuqR6mmLl7yfeiAS6t_7XxxBw74lyyWY52jyDw4UvheujVZgsTY8dnaSA0Vfi8o0fz2IysSNv8mg08-Er26-9N1Ra9lK_SKzB8hjNYfOm9HTJwG6/s1600/Liam+Smith+dominates+Jimmy+Kelly+in+Manchester+to+retain+WBO+light-middleweight+title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Liam Smith dominates Jimmy Kelly in Manchester to retain WBO light-middleweight title" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJxvkmBiD-ltxKGIRAFpupfrp2gEIJuqR6mmLl7yfeiAS6t_7XxxBw74lyyWY52jyDw4UvheujVZgsTY8dnaSA0Vfi8o0fz2IysSNv8mg08-Er26-9N1Ra9lK_SKzB8hjNYfOm9HTJwG6/s640/Liam+Smith+dominates+Jimmy+Kelly+in+Manchester+to+retain+WBO+light-middleweight+title.jpg" title="Liam Smith dominates Jimmy Kelly in Manchester to retain WBO light-middleweight title" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam Smith dominated Liam Kelly to retain his WBO light-middleweight title in Manchester</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> The Liverpool fighter was a level above his opponent as he stopped him in the seventh round at Manchester Arena.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> Smith, 27, put the WBO strap he won in October at the same venue on the line against the relatively unknown, but unbeaten, Kelly.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> 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.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> But from the second round onwards this was only going to be a win for the defending champion.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> Smith piled on the pressure and in the third round was able to patiently wait for opportunities to open up before landing.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> The first of the four fighting brothers to win a world title then hurt Kelly with a sickening body shot in the fifth.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> Kelly – in just his 17^th professional bout – was in real trouble as he took powerful shots on the ropes.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> He managed to survive the round, but any slim hope he had of delivering a huge upset evaporated in the sixth.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> Kelly seemed frustrated as he tried to head-butt his opponent and referee Marcus McDonnell docked him two points for the blatant foul.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGK2auTXz7wNXKA-aNzW4icsVlHohoOIhJuj9sba_w-nvkk1uzZPj9xSFErFiquVxY4FTe1_RUFgMYIYYssZyXYtsXhE5AjAxACDpWyf50aouE8VOo_JGYozJUODdSZr4v5FbVkC9lMUs/s1600/Liam+Smith+dominates+Jimmy+Kelly+in+Manchester+to+retain+WBO+light-middleweight+title+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Liam Smith dominates Jimmy Kelly in Manchester to retain WBO light-middleweight title" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGK2auTXz7wNXKA-aNzW4icsVlHohoOIhJuj9sba_w-nvkk1uzZPj9xSFErFiquVxY4FTe1_RUFgMYIYYssZyXYtsXhE5AjAxACDpWyf50aouE8VOo_JGYozJUODdSZr4v5FbVkC9lMUs/s640/Liam+Smith+dominates+Jimmy+Kelly+in+Manchester+to+retain+WBO+light-middleweight+title+2.jpg" title="Liam Smith dominates Jimmy Kelly in Manchester to retain WBO light-middleweight title" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly was knocked down in the seventh round by Smith and the fight was stopped</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> Smith moved in for the kill in the seventh as a big right hand over the top stunned Kelly.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> The Manchester fighter – who had never been in a 12-round contest before – suffered a delayed reaction as he fell onto the ropes.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> The referee did not deem it as a knockdown when he crumpled to the floor, but the bout did not last much longer.</div> <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"> 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.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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.</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

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 ...

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Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith both target WBO bouts with Miguel Cotto

<div style="text-align: justify;"> BILLY JOE SAUNDERS and Liam Smith are gunning for Miguel Cotto after they continued the British boxing boom. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvR-YtA5an0zOLO0ssEri4xYFA0LrpJlFutgmKJK44RDe1sAnLtbRo6gqsJ4NfErei-lMwotLu2YqEv2Q0kh7BALAPsALdvO4PLAVU7UiVze2Lsd5C_9gKB2yqf2wqq8RAlfYQW8R7oJx/s1600/Billy+Joe+Saunders+and+Liam+Smith+both+target+WBO+bouts+with+Miguel+Cotto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith both target WBO bouts with Miguel Cotto" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvR-YtA5an0zOLO0ssEri4xYFA0LrpJlFutgmKJK44RDe1sAnLtbRo6gqsJ4NfErei-lMwotLu2YqEv2Q0kh7BALAPsALdvO4PLAVU7UiVze2Lsd5C_9gKB2yqf2wqq8RAlfYQW8R7oJx/s640/Billy+Joe+Saunders+and+Liam+Smith+both+target+WBO+bouts+with+Miguel+Cotto.jpg" title="Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith both target WBO bouts with Miguel Cotto" width="597" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith want to fight Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> Hatfield-based Traveller Saunders, 26, became Great Britain's 12th reigning world champion when he wrenched the WBO middleweight strap from Ireland's Andy Lee on Saturday night.</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> While Smith made the first defence of his WBO light-middleweight title by stopping Jimmy Kelly in the seventh round at Manchester Arena.</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> Now both Saunders and Smith want to face Puerto Rican Cotto, who competes at both of their weights.</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> Saunders said: "Since I was a young boy I thought I would love that fight against Cotto, his style suits me. If I could have two weeks off, I would get back in training, I would love that fight. To go to America and do it would be a bigger dream."</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> Smith spoke before his comprehensive win over Kelly about facing Cotto and promoter Frank Warren believes either man could face the veteran former world champion.</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> He said: "For Liam there are a couple of fights I'm looking at, they were talking about Cotto as well as Bill so that would be one. He is capable in going in with the best in the division, he will be around for a good while. We will get him a big fight."</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> Another fight out there for Saunders is WBA and IBF champion Gennady Golovkin, but the British boxer is not ready for the Kazakh knockout artist.</div> <div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;"> He said: "I know he wants to clean up the division, but I have to do what is best for my career. Realistically I am 18 months away from that fight."</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith both target WBO bouts with Miguel Cotto

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS and Liam Smith are gunning for Miguel Cotto after they continued the British boxing boom.   Both Billy Joe Saunder...

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