LIVERPOOL’S Callum Smith moved up to light-heavyweight and halted Lenin Castillo with a frightening knockout early in the second round on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham stadium in London on Saturday (September 25).
A powerful right cross connected and Castillo slammed down into the canvas, his legs shuddering. He needed medical attention immediately and referee Bob Williams waved the bout off, 55 seconds into the second, so paramedics could promptly attend to the stricken fighter.
As well as this being Smith’s first professional contest at 175lbs and his first bout back since losing to Canelo Alvarez in December, it had been his first bout with Buddy McGirt in his corner. Smith had looked sharp, catching Castillo with fast right crosses in the first, taking jabs down to the body and whipping harsh left hooks into Castillo’s trunk.
But there were no celebrations from him afterwards though. Smith waited somberly as the medics strapped Castillo into a stretcher and carried him out of the ring. The fighter was taken to hospital immediately but was reportedly conscious and responsive afterwards.
Well supported Albanian welterweight Florian Marku overcame Maxim Prodan on a split decision after their 10-rounder. Marku had an edge in mobility and a shade more accuracy. He edged back as the aggressive Prodan came on, making space for repeated jabs and sharp crosses, particularly when he switched southpaw. Prodan hurled flurries at him when Marku waited on the ropes but apart from a particularly sharp left hook that momentarily buzzed Marku, a major breakthrough eluded him
American middleweight Chris Ousley opened the show, outpointing Khasan Baysangurov over 10 rounds.