Coventry’s River Wilson-Bent stated after his contest at the Skydome Coventry that he was disappointed with his performance against SA Smith. The thirty-year-old Middleweight who had lost his last contest against Ryan Kelly for the Commonwealth silver title was looking to put on a great performance in front of his home fans on the BGM promotions show (9.3.24). Wilson-Bent came into the fight with a record of fifteen wins and one draw out of twenty contests with Smith (30) from Cornwell being unbeaten in his two contests. The Middleweight fight was scheduled for eight three-minute rounds with Wilson-Bent coming in eleven stone twelve and Smith coming in eleven stone nine with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Good competitive first round with both fighters landing good shots with Wilson-Bent just edging the round. Wilson-Bent used his jab well in the second and landed a great right hand, Smith applied the pressure and landed some good shots but Wilson-Bent's jab won him the round. Smith pressed in the third and landed some good shots but did look clumsy and unorthodox as he came forward, Wilson-Bent continued to land some good shots just edging the round. Wilson-Bent stuck to his jab and started to show the levels in the fourth with some nice right hands and combinations but Smith stood strong and fought back hard in a competitive contest with Wilson-Bent winning the round.
Smith continued to press forward as Wilson-Bent used his jab well in the fifth, Smith landed a cracking right hand and then a left hook wobbling Wilson-Bent with Smith winning this round. Scrappy sixth as Smith continued to press with a lot of holding, close round but would have to give it to Smith. Wilson-Bent continued to landed good shots in the seventh but Smith landed some big right hands that looked like they hurt Wilson-Bent, River came back with good one, two but Smith edged the round. Wilson-Bent used his jab well at the start of the final round as Smith poured forward and landed some big shots, Wilson-Bent weathered the storm and came back strong to get a share of the round.
Ref Ryan Churchill scored the contest 76 to 76 a draw I had it 77 to 76 Wilson-Bent.
Dexter’s Thoughts
This was a very competitive contest and quite entertaining fight but I feel it was only like this as Wilson-Bent didn’t perform to his high standard. SA Smith was unbeaten in two contests and is a tough come-forward fighter but lacked the skills to be competing with Wilson-Bent. It was just a bad night at the office for Wilson-Bent but he got through it, got a draw but I thought he just nicked it. You could tell in the interview after that Wilson-Bent was disappointed in his performance but if I know River him and his team will regroup and come back better. I look forward to seeing River fight again soon.