Light heavyweight Joe Smith Jr beats Andrzej Fonfara
Sunday 19 June 2016 12:18, UK
Andrzej Fonfara was surprisingly beaten in the first round by hard-hitting light heavyweight Joe Smith Jr at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Fonfara barely had time to settle into the opening round of Saturday's WBC international title defence when he was floored by a fierce right hander from challenger Smith, and although the Polish fighter stumbled to his feet, he never regained his composure.
And Smith almost immediately connected with a cross-hook combo that put Fonfara back on the canvas before referee Hector Afu stopped the fight, with the favourite looking unsteady back on his feet.
In the opening bout of the night of the Premier Boxing Champions, Rau'shee Warren claimed a bantamweight world championship with a win over Juan Carlos Payano.
The three-time Olympian Warren became the first member of the 2012 U.S. team to earn a world title when he was awarded the majority decision over the two-time Dominican Olympian Payano.
In a toe-to-toe encounter, Warren had more success catching the champion, who suffered a rib injury in the early rounds.
Payano staggered early in the 11th round, as Warren picked up the pace towards the end of the bout.
And in the following round, he had more success as he opened up a cut under Payano's right eye to ensure a win on points.
