James DeGale looked superb tonight- Photo credit Getty images

James DeGale 9-0 (7) proved his class tonight and put in a superb display of boxing to dismantle reigning British super middleweight champion Paul Smith 29-2 (15) in nine rounds in Smith’s home city of Liverpool.

I felt DeGale was sensational and seemed a step ahead of Smith for the entire duration of the bout. Despite Smith being competitive in every round, by the fights end I had only given him a share of the third.

There was an electric  atmosphere with the crowd being very hostile to the Olympic Gold medallist but DeGale showed early that he was up for the battle after he was warned for use of the elbow after only fifteen seconds. Smith was trying to mix up boxing on the outside with brawling on the inside but everything he tried, DeGale had an answer to.

By the third round, the advantages of foot and handspeed in DeGale’s favour were becoming very evident although Smith kept coming. A nasty clash of heads in the fourth led to Smith being cut over the right eye. Although this clash was unintentional, DeGale threw plenty more punches at the damaged target and was quite careless with his head.

Smith did seem to land a big right in the fourth round as DeGale was near the ropes but DeGale quickly held on and then started punishing the champion again. Smith’s corner implored their man to start turning the fight into a real brawl at he came out for the sixth but after initial success was met by a couple of meaty left hooks as he tried to rush in.

Smith by now was in the position of not knowing what to do. He was being outboxed on the outside but hurt when trying to come forward . To Smith’s intense credit he elected to try and win the fight which meant that he kept walking on to shots. In the eighth round a big uppercut rocked Smith and the end finally came in the ninth.

A left hook wobbled Smith and DeGale jumped in with a fast combination. Smith was brave as ever  and managed to survive but another left hook staggered him and another big left hook brought the referee’s intervention. Smith complained bitterly about the stoppage but he was getting dominated by this stage and referee Howard Foster seemed to make a perfect call. DeGale who can be abrasive was very sporting afterwards.

Smith will come again but it may just be that domestic honours are going to be the limit of his boxing career and of that there is no shame at all as many fighter would have given anything to win a Lonsdale belt.

As for DeGale, well the sky could very well be his limit. He now needs to consolidate at this level for a couple of fights before looking at European and then World honours. He showed good stamina tonight, great speed and a lovely variety of punches all whilst retaining quite an economical style.

What I was most impressed about DeGale though was his guile. Many ex amateur stars really struggle to fight on the inside early on in their pro careers but DeGale threw plenty of punches inside and was also clever at holding when needing too and was also quite spiteful with his head and elbows.

Hopefully DeGale will not now be rushed to a World title fight. It could be hard to match him now as he seems too good for most fighters bar World champions. However with that bit more experience he could be an absolute World beater.

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