Smith gets the nod over Simpson in absorbing clash

The Kelvin Hall in the west end of Glasgow was a veritable lions' den when Stephen Smith and John Simpson met up for the Commonwealth featherweight title as main supporting bout for Ricky Burns title challenge.  

“Swifty” Smith was met with a really hostile atmosphere as the fans of John Simpson made him less than welcome in the city. Smith though wasn’t fazed in the slightest by either the occasion or the crowd as he took the centre of the ring from the first bell.

Smith took chances on his speed, showing his desire very early in the bout. Simpson seemed to be relying on his counters which were accurate if less than dominating in the opening rounds. Smith was smoothly setting the pace and outworking the champion with eye-catching combinations.

Smith was cut over his right eye in the third round from a head clash, but Mick Williamson is in his corner so it wasn't too much of a problem. Simpson was still allowing the younger man to run the pace of the bout in the early stages, but he must have hoped to drag the faster Smith into a war as the bout progressed.

Simpson delivered a peach of an uppercut to jolt the head of Smith in the fifth, as the champion finally began to show his ability in boxing trench warfare. Smith seemed to be allowing himself to dragged into a less than fluid fight with perhaps a modicum of inexperience.

The end of the sixth saw a beautiful left hook to the body which sucked all the air out of Simpson, but he managed to see it through. It was absorbing if lacking in “Noble Art” skills.

Round nine and Terry O’Connor could have given a warning to Smith for persistent holding and punching, but the obvious private warning seemed to chasten the youngster. By round ten, Simpson seemed to be allowing Smith back into the fight having taken the steam away from the Liverpool boxer in the middle part of the bout, and Smith didn’t need second bidding.

Uppercuts from the Greenock man are the dominant feature of the eleventh, as we approached the ultimate round. The resultant majority decision to the youngster is roundly disapproved of by the fans of the Greenock man, but in truth many of the rounds were so close, that subjectivity means that it depends what you like.

Judges Victor Loughlin (116-114) to Simpson with Ian Jon-Lewis (112-116) and Phil Edwards (114-116) both for Smith was the recorded scores and the only quibble I’d have is Jon-Lewis’ effort as the difference was never that wide whichever boxer got it.

All of which is immaterial as the belt has gone back to Liverpool.