Sam Maxwell’s hopes of landing the British super-lightweight title ended in heartbreak after he was knocked out by Dalton Smith.
The 26-year-old also became the Commonwealth super-lightweight champion when he stopped Maxwell in the seventh round with a brutal right hand at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield.
Smith was in control from the first bell, as Maxwell found it hard to get into the fight due to the 26-year-old countering well. However, Smith didn’t have things all his own way, as he suffered two cuts above both eyes during the contest.
One of the cuts came from an accidental clash of heads in the fifth round, and that brought an increased urgency to Smith’s work. Making the most of a lapse in Maxwell’s defence, Smith landed a huge right hand that sent the 34-year-old flying to the canvas two rounds later.
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An initial 10-count was started, but referee Kevin Parker waved the contest off five seconds into the count. Speaking post-fight, Smith explained the moment that spurred him on to victory.
He said: "It was the first time I’ve had a cut and felt the blood pouring. And I thought, 'This is why I’m a warrior, and this is what I’m made for'.
"But I smelt blood and thought, 'This is where I turn it up'. I needed critics asking me if I was that good, and I needed Sam to bring this out of me.
"In my career, I want to become a world champion, but I made a bit of history in my city by winning the British title outright."
