Callum Smith knocks out Luke Blackledge in 10th round to retain British title
CALLUM SMITH knocked Luke Blackledge out after an attritional 10 rounds of the British super-middleweight title fight.
Callum Smith brutally knocks out Blackledge
Blackledge looked out of his depth quickly and did well to make it to the end of the third round.
Smith came in with the British title but has been the mandatory challenger to Badou Jack for over a year.
DON'T MISS ANY ACTION FROM MANCHESTER WITH OUR LIVE BLOG AS ANTHONY JOSHUA FACES ERIC MOLINA
Callum Smith and Luke Blackledge almost went the distance in Manchester
Callum Smith and Luke Blackledge both found themselves on the floor
Callum Smith knocked Luke Blackledge out cold and he required oxygen in the ring
He could have finished the fight in the fourth but Blackledge showed why he has earned a reputation as a tough fighter with a chin of steel.
The Darwen also caught Smith with enough left hooks to keep him honest but in reality the fight was never going in any other direction than to the champion.