Sunday 18 June 2017 07:18, UK
Tyron Zeuge proved too strong for Paul Smith as he defended his WBA 'regular' super-middleweight world title with a unanimous points decision win.
It was the Liverpool fighter's third crack at world honours, having twice lost out to Arthur Abraham previously, but it was not going to be third time lucky for the 34-year-old as Zeuge took the victory via three scores of 119-108 in Germany's Rittal Arena.
The unbeaten German titleholder fought behind a solid left jab to outwork his British opponent, dropping Smith to the canvas in the final seconds of the contest, as he made the second successful defence of his WBA 'regular' title.
Zeuge, 25, started the contest the quicker of the two, quickly finding his range with an accurate jab, landing some early heavy left hooks on his experienced opponent.
'Smigga' made a more patient start, but quickly upped the gears in the third, breaching the defence of Zeuge with a damaging right hand that wobbled the legs of the champion.
The German though quickly regained control in the following rounds, countering well off of the jab of Smith, firing out his own jab to great effect.
Zeuge began to load up on his combinations in the seventh, before he found a huge eye-catching right uppercut in the following stanza to further extend his command of the title contest.
The champion continued to outwork 'Smigga' as the fight reached the championship rounds with an almost impregnable defence and despite a period of sustained pressure in the final few rounds from Smith, Zeuge, who knocked an unbalanced Smith to the canvas in the final moments of the fight, rightfully had his hand raised at the final bell.
Earlier in the evening, Paul's brother and two-time world title challenger Stephen earned a first round stoppage victory over Hungarian Karoly Gallovich.
