Liam Smith Scores TKO Stoppage Of Mwakinyo

Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam “Beefy” Smith was looking for an impressive showing Saturday night to potentially get back into title contention. And in the Boxxer/Sky Sports main event in his hometown of Liverpool, England, he got it.  But, it was not without a bit of confusion and controversy.

First, Smith scored a stoppage over his Tanzanian opponent Hassan Mwakinyo by 4th round TKO

It's all over in round four. @LiamBeefySmith closes the show and there's no love lost at the end of #SmithMwakinyo 💔#FightNightLiverpool | 3 Sep | M&S Arena, Liverpool | @SkySportsBoxing pic.twitter.com/7gKFSWyIcm

— BOXXER (@boxxer) September 3, 2022

However, as you could see from that video above, there was definitely a questionable moment or two as Mwakinyo was tagged by a good right hand, but then, seemed to be slipping in his own corner from what they claimed was a damp part of the ring.

Still, the fundamental rule of boxing is you must protect yourself at all times, and Mwakinyo was eventually dropped and stopped with another barrage of punches by Smith. The referee waved the bout off with Mwakinyo still seated in his corner.

For his part after the fight Smith said very simply he thought Mwakinyo was looking for “a way out” of the ring and was using the slipping in his own Corner as an excuse,

🗣 "I told them straight, he quit."
🗣 "If @ChrisEubankJr wants to fight, I'm here."@LiamBeefySmith explains how his bout with Hassan Mwakinyo finished and discusses what's next 👀#FightNightLiverpool | 3 Sep | M&S Arena, Liverpool | @SkySportsBoxing pic.twitter.com/e3cL5VjEGx

— BOXXER (@boxxer) September 3, 2022

As we wrote in the preview mode, Smith now hopes to either eventually get a shot at Undisputed 154 lb. Champion Jermell Charlo or may try to move up to middleweight and fight unbeatenWBO recently elevated world middleweight champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly.

Smith, who’s the older brother of former WBA 168 lb. world champ Callaum Smith, previously lost his WBO belt to Canelo Alvarez by KO in September 2016. And, then, he lost again in world title challenge to Jaime Munguia on a decision for the vacant WBO belt again in July 2018 in Las Vegas.

Since, then he’d won 5 of six bouts to stay relevant in the rankings headed to Saturday’s bout with Mwakinyo, who had won 10 straight bouts on his own. Now, make it six of seven fights for Smith and a career record of 32-3-1, with 19 KOs.