Liam Smith earns Liverpool bragging rights with stoppage over Anthony Fowler
- Joe Hewlett
- 10 October 2021
Smith inflicted the second defeat of Anthony Fowler's career with an eighth-round win at the M&S Arena...
Liam Smith stopped Merseyside rival Anthony Fowler with an eighth-round knockout to win their WBA international super-welterweight title showdown in Liverpool.
Former WBO world champion Smith had been cut under his left eye in the opening round, but after being on the back foot again in the third, the 33-year-old regained composure to find his own range.
Fowler was himself cut in the fourth and then another big hand from Smith sent him down in the next.
Although bravely trying to force his way back into the contest, another sweeping left from Smith sent Fowler down to the canvas again in the eighth round.
Although Fowler got back up to his feet, the referee waved the contest off, as Smith jumped on the ropes to celebrate a memorable victory in front of a home crowd.
Team Smith get it done in Liverpool 🙌#SmithFowler pic.twitter.com/vxcYjXI9GE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 9, 2021
Defeats for Courtenay and Cheeseman
Earlier on the undercard, Shannon Courtenay surrendered her WBA bantamweight title to Jamie Mitchell by majority decision - 97-93, 96-94, 95-95.
Bermondsey fighter Ted Cheeseman lost his British super-welterweight title to Troy Williamson after being stopped in the 10th round.
"It was a great fight," Smith said.
"I started slow I think, but from start to finish we did a good job. I said all along I had the bigger punches."
The pair, both from Liverpool, faced off at the city's M&S Arena for the WBA international super-welterweight title.
Speaking about the first knockdown, 33-year-old Smith said: "I thought it was over in the fifth. I let him off the hook a bit.
"This wasn't an easy win."
Fowler, 30, added: "I thought I made a good start. He's a class act. I'm humble in defeat. The better man won."
