Photos: Callum Smith Struggles in Debated Win Over John Ryder

Liverpool, UK - WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith (26-0, 19 KOs) won what was an unpopular decision to some, with a twelve round unanimous decision over John Ryder (28-5, 16 KOs). The scores were 117-111, 116-112, 116-112. (photos by Mark Robinson)

There wasn't much in the first round, as they were feeling each other out. Ryder put in a few small attacks. The southpaw style of Ryder was getting past Smith, as he was landing head shots when coming inside.

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Smith began to have a better third with his jab. Ryder came out firing in the fourth and taking the fight to Smith in close. Smith sustained a cut around the right eye from a clash of heads.

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Smith was letting his hands go more often in the fifth. There was damage to the right eye of Smith. Smith continued to get his hands going and landing on Ryder in the sixth. Ryder was backing Smith up to the ropes in the seventh and forcing Smith to fight.

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Both had their moments in the eight. The ninth was close, but Ryder continued to press forward and landing shots on the inside. Smith was being bulled back in the tenth and unable to get the shots off that he wanted. Smith was more active with his punches in the eleventh, but he was still getting tagged by hard punches.

Smith looked exhausted in the twelfth and Ryder was pushing forward. Smith was doing his best to fight him off, but he didn't land much.

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