Stephen Smith Secures IBF Title Shot, Stops Boschiero

By Terence Dooley

Liverpool - Liverpool’s Stephen Smith recently told BoxingScene that he performs better when he has a challenge on his plate and something to work towards, in recent times he has been ticking over in order to keep his tools sharp should an opportunity present itself.  

The 30-year-old Liverpudlian knew that a win over Italy's Devis Boschiero, 34, would lead to an IBF Super featherweight world title and he took the opportunity with both hands, flooring his opponent twice in round two and bossing the early going.

By the fourth, Boschiero’s eye was badly swollen—every shot that landed on it must have felt like so many angry bee stings—and he went down under fire for the third time in the contest.

Referee Marcus McDonnell brought the ringside doctor in to inspect the swelling.  Boschiero, though, was allowed to continue only to ship some further punishment.

The former world title challenger looked a beaten man, but he dug in throughout the fifth, throwing home run shots in a bid to turn the tide after enduring four torrid sessions.

A well-placed left hook to the body in the sixth dropped Boschiero, who lost his gumshield and the fight after getting up only to be dropped again to prompt the stoppage at 2:45 of the round.

Smith moves to 23-1 (13) and a world title challenger.  The visitor drops to 37-4-1 (29) and was stopped for the first time in his long career.

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