Round three went to Quigley for his work to the body but four was shared with neither landing shots of any major significance – cheers from the crowd as their fighter advanced gave a false impression of the effectiveness of punches.
However rounds five through eight proved a purple patch for challenger Smith who would put himself three ahead on this scorecard – despite sustaining a cut to his eye.
Quigley, switch-hitting throughout, refused to abandon his policy as the aggressor and in round nine he brawled his way inside before using his jab to good effect in the tenth to go to work on the gash above Smith’s eye.
That the fight was finely balanced was not lost on the pair and round 11 exploded into the tear-up it threatened to be Smith and Quigley simply traded, but the ‘Real Gone Kid’ would edge it for the cleaner work once more.
And Smith would ensure he took home the British crown with eye-catching combinations in the final round to take the decision.
The fight may not have eclipsed Quigley-Dodson for drama but it has paved the way for Liverpool to re-establish itself as the home of British boxing.
Meanwhile in the other main attractions of the evening, Beijing goal medalist James DeGale saw off Penrith’s undefeated Ally Morrison inside the distance.
Fellow Olympian Frankie Gavin made light work of Walsall’s Steve Saville, scoring a TKO win at two minutes 32 seconds of the second round.
There were also wins for Michael Jennings against Laszlo Komjathi, Jamie Cox versus Manoo Salari and for Tobias Webb
Article
