By Miguel Assuncao
Callum Smith (20-0-0, 15KOs) maintains his position as mandatory challenger for Badou Jack's WBC super middleweight title with a comfortable win over Norbert Nemesapati (21-3-0, 16KOs), who retired before the start of round seven.
'Mundo' used his considerable size advantage over his Hungarian opponent from the off, landing a crisp uppercut in the opening round that had the Eastern European man backing off which proved to set the tone for the fight.
Despite boasting an impressive resume, Nemesapati had been defeated in all three of his bouts outside of his homeland and he was largely in defensive mode as he looked to evade Smith's powerful right hand.
After several quiet rounds, Smith, 26, upped the pace in round six, landing a crisp left to the body before going upstairs to force the challenger to take a knee.
Nemesapati eventually rose to his feet to be allowed to continue but was retired by his corner before the start of round seven.
Smith will now await the outcome of unification negotiations between Badou Jack and fellow Brit James DeGale before plotting his next move.
Charlie Edwards's (8-0-0, 3KOs) brave bid to capture the IBF flyweight title ends in disappointment as John Riel Casimero (22-3-0, 14KOs) wins by technical knockout in round 10.
Edwards, 23, looked comfortable beyond his years as he challenged for world honours in just his ninth pro outing, but he was ultimately unable to deal with the ring craft of the experienced Filipino champion.
Casimero – who knocked out Amnat Ruenroeng last time out in May – wasted no time in taking control of centre ring from a low left guard, expertly slipping Edwards' jabs with the intention of landing his potent overhand right.
Casimero landed just that in round four, before following up with a sickening right uppercut that buckled the legs of the Surrey-based fighter.
The defending champion's corner had to deal with a cut over their man's left eye which seemed to trouble him in round five as Edwards had sustained success with his right hand for the first time in the fight.
Edwards struggled to maintain the pressure on ‘Quadro Alas’, using his speed and nifty footwork to get in and out of range without being able to land any telling shots in his burst of activity.
Round seven, saw Casimero, 26, land two consecutive right hands that had Edwards on the retreat before the man from the Philippines had the Englishman in trouble again with a series of body shots that forced the challenger to hold.
Casimero upped the pace in the tenth round and sent Edwards down with a perfectly timed left hook that looked to have ended the fight.
Edwards bravely got back to his feet but the fight was waved off by the referee 1.57 into the round as ‘Quadro Alas’ unleashed another barrage of unanswered punches.
