SUPER-WELTER BELTER
Veteran Smith pushes Williams hard in a cracking clash, writes Kenneth Bouhairie
Julian Williams and Ishe Smith engage in a crowd-pleasing Las Vegas tussle
SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT Julian Williams’ win over Ishe Smith is another example of how the facts and the truth aren’t necessarily the same in boxing. The facts are, Williams won a wide 10-round unanimous decision. The truth is, Williams-smith was a thrilling, tight battle that kept the crowd at the Cosmopolitan on the edge of their seats.
Boxing News had it 96-94 for Williams. The 27-year-old was faster, moved better and landed the more eye-catching blows. He also resembled a fighter still in search of what was lost on December 10, 2016. That was the night Jermall Charlo handed him his first loss via highlight-reel KO.
Williams returned to the ring in June with a stoppage of Joshua Conley. Conley seemed more interested in cashing his cheque than earning it. Conversely, Las Vegas’ Smith, coming off a 14-month layoff, fought with the hunger of a 39-year-old former world champion desperate for more purses.
Williams-smith was far more entertaining than expected – a classic crossroads bout. Yet it was one-sided early on. Williams won three of the first four rounds, catching Smith repeatedly with a snapping jab and sneaky right hands. A clash of heads in the second opened a cut over Smith’s left optic.
When he wasn’t pawing at his eye early on, Smith’s attack concentrated on the body. It paid off in the fifth when a left hook to the ribs backed Williams up. A series of rights brought about roars from the pro-smith crowd. Williams wasn’t seriously hurt, though.
Smith continued to gather momentum. A short right in the seventh momentarily stunned Williams. The proud Philadelphia native motioned for more. Smith obliged, digging up and downstairs. His assault was cut short when an accidental headbutt caused a new gash around his left eyelid.
They took turns landing leather during the final three rounds. The 10th featured heavy toe-to-toe action, and another bad accidental headbutt. Both fighters had their moments when action resumed – a microcosm of the fight. Scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. Russell Mora officiated.
In a battle between Big Apple lightheavies, Buffalo’s Lionell Thompson handed Earl Newman of Brooklyn his first defeat, building a wide points lead to secure a 10-round unanimous verdict at 96-92 and 97-91 (twice).
This was easily the finest performance of Thompson’s up-and-down career. He displayed fast hands, good power and excellent lateral movement. The stocky boxer-puncher used his jab to close the gap against the taller Newman, and then raked him with blurring combinations.
A beautiful right uppercut in the third shook Newman up. Thompson chased him around the ring, landing another right that nearly drove Newman through the ropes. He remained upright but referee Robert Byrd, who initially looked as if he might stop the fight, stepped in to administer an eight-count, correctly noting that only the ropes had held Newman up.
Thompson wobbled Newman again with a left hook midway through the fourth. Another left, followed by two rights, floored the Brooklynite. Mr Byrd had an extended chat with Newman before action continued. Newman managed to avoid further damage for the rest of the round, using his feet and a long jab to keep Thompson at bay.
After back-to-back 10-8 sessions, Newman came out aggressively stalking Thompson in the fifth. But Thompson turned the tables in the sixth, coming forward behind the shoulder roll and working his opponent over.
Newman came on during the final third of the fight, stunning Thompson with a counter right in the eighth. He finished the stronger fighter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Newman’s lead.
A clash between undefeated featherweights saw Tugstsogt Nyambayar taste the canvas and go the distance for the first time as a pro. Nevertheless, he still managed to collect a hard-fought eight-round unanimous decision over Miami-based Filipino Harmonito Dela Torre.
Carson, California resident Nyambayar was dropped hard by a left hook in the second. The 2012 Olympic silver medallist from Mongolia showed mettle in the ensuing rounds, landing well-placed and well-thrown shots to Dela Torre’s head and body. He may still be a work in progress, but his talent is evident. Two judges had it 78-73, while the third scored 79-73. Kenny Bayless refereed.
THE VERDICT Smith proves that he still has fight left in him, even at 39.