Slick Smith becomes English champion

Mitchell Smith won the English super-featherweight title with a commanding points victory against the previously unbeaten Peter Cope at Bethnal Green’s York Hall.

The 21-year-old prospect from Harrow Weald largely dominated the 10-round bout with his hand speed to extend his unblemished professional record to 9-0.

He floored Cope in the sixth round – just as the Hartlepool man was having his best spell of the fight.

Cope landed with body shots and a straight left to the head before being tagged by a left to the temple which disorientated him and meant a follow-up right was enough to send him to the canvas.

To his credit, Cope battled on, had some moments of success and absorbed a number of powerful shots from the former ABA champion.

After being caught by a left uppercut in round nine, Smith responded with a thunderous right and underlined his class by continuing to pick Cope off with crisp shots.

Smith was a clear winner on all three scorecards, with the judges scoring it 99-90, 100-89 and 100-90 in his favour.

Earlier in the evening, Wembley’s Gary Corcoran maintained his unbeaten record with a third-round stoppage of Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson.

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