M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool - Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith (27-2-1, 15 KOs) dominated and stopped Sam Eggington (24-5, 15 KOs) in the fifth round.

With the win, Smith captures the vacant WBC silver junior middleweight belt.

In his last fight, Smith lost a twelve round decision to current WBO champion Jaime Munguia last July in Las Vegas.

Eggington won a four round decision over Sam Omidi in February, but last September he was shockingly knocked out by Hassan Mwakinyo in two rounds.

Smith quickly started pressing Eggington back and was outworking and outlanding him as they traded punches at close range. The toe to toe trading continued for much of the start. Smith suffered a cut to the top of his head, likely from a head clash.

They went back to trading at the start of the second. Both has flashes of success. Eggington was starting to land some solid punches as well, but his face was already starting to show swelling. At the end of the round, Smith blasted Eggington with several solid punches.

Eggington came out jabbing at the start of the third. Smith began to back him and was forcing Eggington to engage more. Smith started to unload on Eggington in the final minute when he pressed him against the ropes. The right eye of Eggington was closing up and really bruised.

They continued to fight at close distance in the fourth. Smith began to unload again the final minute, after Eggington was starting to have a good two minutes. Eggington was able to fight him off.

Smith was letting his hands go, pressing Eggington against the ropes in the fifth. Eggington was being picked apart and couldn't seem to really hurt Smith with anything. Smith stunned him with a big shots and began to batter him in the corner with shots until the referee jumped in to wave things off.