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Joe Smith Jr scores shock first round knockout over Fonfara

In probably the biggest shock of the year, Joe Smith Jr made a mockery of his 14-1 outsider odds to demolish the World-title chasing Andrzej Fonfara inside a round.

Fighting in front of the Pole’s partisan crowd at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, ‘The Irish Bomber’ had his man down heavily inside the first two minutes with a huge right hook.

Fonfara beat the count but stumbled across the ring and was lucky to be allowed continue, however Long Island’s Smith would finish the bout with his next attack, leaving the former World title challenger down crumpled under the turnbuckle.

In his last two bouts the light heavyweight Polish Prince had beaten Nathan Cleverly and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, but was undone by the power-punching 26 year old, who is a full-time construction worker.

The massive upset improves Smith Jr’s record to 22(18)-1(1), while the shell-shocked Fonfara drops to 28(16)-4(2).

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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