In Monte Carlo last night the Liverpool fighter, Stephen Smith, failed to realise his dream of claiming the WBA super-featherweight title.
Matched against the hard-punching American fighter Jason Sosa, Smith put up a gallant display but just wasn?t good enough to beat the American.
Although Smith went the full twelve rounds and fought gallantly, Sosa took the verdict on the scorecards of all three judges by the following scores:
? 116 ? 111
? 117 ? 110
and
? 116 ? 112
A sign of things to come perhaps; came when Smith was put on the canvas in the second round, although a keen eye would have seen that Sosa trod on Smith?s foot thereby forcing the knockdown.
Matters got worse for Smith in the third round when a bad cut opened up above his right eye.
Smith continued to battle on but was often forced to hold-on as Sosa increased the pressure.
Knowing he was well behind on points, Smith made a huge effort to grab the title from Sosa in the latter rounds.
In round nine Sosa was rattled by a flurry of punches to the head and in round eleven, just as the bell sounded, Smith caught Sosa with a big head shot.
The win sees Sosa extend his professional record to 20-1-4 with 15 wins coming by way of knockout whilst Smith sees his slip to 24-3 with 14 coming by way of stoppages.
The loss was Smith?s second world title defeat but, at 31-years-old there is time for the Liverpool fighter to come again.
Smith Beaten By Sosa in WBA Title Fight
