Cleverly v Bellew II: Callum Smith extends unbeaten record with wide points win

Callum Smith continued his steady rise up the super-middleweight ranks with a dominant points win over Nikola Sjekloca.

The Liverpudlian faced the toughest test of his career against a former world title challenger, but barely wasted a punch as he earned victory with scores of 118-111, 120-108 and 118-110.

Smith looked sharp from the opening bell, sending out solid jabs before a lightning left bounced off Sjekloca’s scalp.

Having shed his nerves, the home fighter unloaded right hands in the next, but the Montenegrin was made of stern stuff and brushed off an uppercut in the third.

Sjekloca’s defences were suddenly scattered by a body attack in the fourth, with Smith stalking his hurt foe, who seemed ready to wilt before the bell offered a reprieve.

Smith refused to take risks against an experienced opponent, content to chip away with a steady stream of jabs, but Sjekloca was wobbled by another hook in the sixth.

His chin was holding up, despite some hurtful rights from the Merseysider, and a sweeping left hook bounced off Sjekloca in the ninth.

Into the 10th, Smith stepped up his search for a stoppage, driving in uppercuts, but Sjekloca was showing little ambition and soaked up the punishment.

Smith approached 12 rounds for the first time, handling the distance with ease and pumped out punches until the final bell.