Liam Smith Stops Anthony Fowler To Win 'Battle Of Liverpool'

Liam Smith put on a professional performance to halt fellow Liverpudlian inside the distance

Sold as the 'Battle Of Liverpool' Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing brought a huge line up to the M&S Bank Arena that included a British Title fight and a World Title fight.

Hometown hero Liam Smith topped the stacked bill with a stoppage victory over Anthony Fowler to claim the WBA International title. Fowler started the fight well, causing a cut to under the right eye of Smith and accumulating the early couple of rounds and momentarily stunned Smith in the third, but 'Beefy' managed to use his experience to ride out the storm.

As the fight progressed Smith put his foot on the gas and started to push Fowler back, dictating the pace of the fight and had huge success in doing so, dropping Fowler in the fifth with an overhand right. Although the shot hurt Fowler he stuck in there but you could see the direction the fight was going and it was only a matter of time before Liam sent Fowler to the canvas for the second time that ultimately led to trainer McGuigan throwing the towel in to end the entertaining fight.

"I started slow I think, but from start to finish we did a good job. I said all along I had the bigger punches."

Fowler, 30, added: "I thought I made a good start. He's a class act. I'm humble in defeat. The better man won."

Troy Williamson claimed the British super welterweight title in a brutal affair with Ted Cheeseman. Williamson ended the fight in the tenth round with a huge knock out to stun the 26 year old.

It caught fire within the first 60 seconds of the fight, with both eager to land the big shots. The pair continued with the toe to toe style throughout. and Williamson inflicted a nasty cut under the left of Cheeseman.

In the dying seconds of round five both men were momentarily hurt in the space of ten seconds.

Both fighters were hurt several times during the fight and there were many momentum swings during the bout.

In the tenth Williamson hurt Cheeseman backing him up on to the ropes, landing an uppercut and then finished the fight with a left hook sending Cheeseman down and out.

Peter McGrail started his professional career with a punch perfect win over Ed Harrison. Tokyo 2020 Olympian won every round on his way to a 60-54 victory.

Jamie Mitchell pulled off a huge upset beating Shannon Courtenay to claim the vacant WBA Bantamweight title. Courtenay lost the belt on the scales on Friday, after failing to make weight for the championship bout.

Keiron Conway battled to a hard fought points victory of hometown fight JJ Metcalf. The fight never managed to catch fire but was an interesting tactical battle from start to finish. Conway edged it on the scorecards and will aim to fight Troy Williamson for the British title next.

Solomon Dacres boxed to a comfortable points victory over the tough Pole heavyweight Kamil Sokolowski. Dacres now holds a record of 3-0 (1 KO). Luke Willis edged out Rylan Charlton in a close fight. Willis remains unbeaten whilst Charlton has two defeats in his last two fights.

Robbie Davies Jr scored a fourth round KO of Jonny Phillips infront of his hone fans. Davies Jr has linked up with new trainer Shane McGuigan after being dropped by Brendan Ingle. 

Blane Hyland kicked off the night with a points victory against Santiago San Eusebio.