If you had selected the least likely result for Saturday's middleweight clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith before the fight, you likely would have picked a Smith KO.
Smith has never been known as a big puncher, and Eubank has always shown an excellent chin, so combined with Eubank being the natural middleweight and Smith moving up to the division, it was only natural to think Smith's best chance to win was via decision.
And as so often happens in boxing, the least likely result was exactly what happened as Smith landed a left uppercut that sent Eubank slumping in a corner, and on very unsteady legs after he rose.
Smith grabbed the opportunity to floor Eubank again and after he rose from the floor, his coordination looked even worse and the fight ended in round four.
As the post-fight began a large lump under Eubank's right eye began to appear and in hindsight, Eubank may have had major problems with the eye not swelling shut as the fight progressed.
For Liam Smith, it's the biggest win of his career and may have earned him a potential title fight later this year as the defeated Eubank was rated in the top five in three of the rating organizations.
Smith may have to repeat his win over Eubank as there is a rematch clause, should Eubank choose to activate his option but if not Smith certainly will be in line for bigger fights.
As for Eubank, this loss isn't one to finish a career but he will need to bounce back from this, if not with a win over Smith in a rematch, a win over someone to regain his standing in the division.
Eubank is capable of winning a rematch as he looked very good in the third round and looked to be ready to swing the fight his way, so I would imagine that he could justify a rematch by stating he just caught perfectly by an average puncher and could win a rematch.
Eubank had better win that rematch if he asks for it as a second loss could leave him as permanently damaged goods.
In the co-feature, undefeated Richard Riakporhe knocked out former WBO cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Glowacki in the fourth round for the biggest win of his career.
Riakporhe fended off the occasional rushes of Glowacki and came close to ending the fight in round two as he rocked Glowacki late in the round before the round ended.
Riakporhe punished Glowacki in the fourth round and after raining punches on the veteran and trapping him in a corner, the referee bailed Glowacki out with an honorable stoppage before he would take even more of a beating.
Riakporhe looks to be in line for a challenge of WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie next or fight for a possible vacant title, should Okolie decide to leave the division.
As for Glowacki, with knockout losses in three of his last fights, he seems to be well past his prime and should consider retirement.
In the other challenge fight, former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker rebounded from his knockout loss to Joe Joyce with an easy unanimous decision over awkward former cruiserweight Jack Massey.
Massey looked almost frail next to Parker and the southpaw did try to be effective. especially in the tenth round when he rallied a bit.
Massey lost a point in the eighth round for holding and there wasn't a ton of action for Parker to brag about a big win.
Scorecards saw Parker a winner at 97-93, 96-93, and 97-92.
I scored Parker the winner at 98-91.
Boxing Challenge
Ramon Malpica: 10 Pts (4)
TRS: 10 Pts (3)
Vince Samano: 10 Pts (3)
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