Callum Smith retains Super Middleweight title with decision over Ryder

Callum Smith defended his WBA Super Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over gritty challenger John Ryder at The Echo Arena in Smith’s hometown of Liverpool. England.

Smith had to dig down as Ryder made it a dog-fight and fought with a cut over his right eye.

Ryder, 167.4 lbs of Liverpool won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 twice to raise his mark to 27-0. Ryder, 167.4 lbs of London is 28-5.

“I want the best names in the division and I’m not disrespecting John Ryder but there was no fear tonight,” Smith told Sky Sports afterwards.

“I didn’t believe John Ryder was good enough to beat me. There are fighters that I believe are good enough to beat me that don’t perform and that’s going to bring out the best in me. That’s what I want, I want the big names.

“I just want a big name, where if I turn up like tonight I’ll lose. That fear brings out the best performance in me, I feel I need that.”

“I thought that was harsh,” said Ryder. “I thought I forced the fight, he was just nicking rounds, if that. I thought I done enough to win that.

“I’ve lost for the British title three times, I’ve come back and fought for a world title against the world No 1. I think I’ve done more than enough to show I’m credible for this and I will come again.”

Chris Billam-Smith stopped Craig Glover in round five of their scheduled 12-round cruiserweight bout.

In round one, Glover was cut around the right eye. In round four, Billam-Smith dropped Glover with a combination to the head. In round five, it was a left from Billam-Smith that sent Glove down again. Seconds later, Billam-Smith continued to pound away on Glover and the fight was stopped just as Billam-Smith sent Glover down with a right hand at 1:45.

Billam-Smith, 198.7 lbs of Bournemouth is 10-1 with nine knockouts. Glover, 198.3 lbs of Liverpool is 10-3.

“Craig is a very good fighter. I was scared going into that fight,” said Billam-Smith afterwards. “I’d love that fight next [Richard Riakporhe vs Jack Massey].”

Anthony Fowler won a 10-round unanimous decision over Harry Scarff in a super welterweight bout.

In round nine, Fowler landed a right hand that put Scarff down.

Fowler, 153.8 lbs of Liverpool won by scores of 98-91 on all cards, and is now 11-0. Scarff, 152.9 lbs of Derby is 8-1.

“His nickname is ‘Horrible’, he didn’t want to fight. That was a horrible, frustrating fight,” Fowler told Sky Sports afterwards. “As long as I win, that’s my main priority.”

Sean Dodd won a technical majority decision over Tom Farrell in a super lightweight bout.

In round one, Farrell suffered a bloody nose. In round four, Farrell was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt. The blood covered his face, and he said he could not see following the round and the bout was stopped.

Since four rounds were completed they went to the scorecards, and Dodd was ahead 39-38, 39-37 and 38-38.

Dodd is now 16-5-1. Farrell is 17-3.

Thomas Whittaker-Hart stopped Josp Perkovic in a scheduled six-round cruiserweight bout.

Hart, 178.4 lbs of Liverpool is 4-0 with two knockouts. Perkovic, 180.6 lbs of Croatia is now 9-2.