Callum Smith goes the distance, outclasses Nikola Sjekloca

In an important step-up fight for the hot super middleweight prospect, Callum Smith was just too good and too strong for veteran Nikola Sjekloca today in Liverpool, winning a wide 12-round decision on scores of 118-111, 118-110, and 120-108. BLH had it 120-108 for Smith, who improves to 15-0 (11 KO).

It was the first time that the 24-year-old Smith had to go a 12-round distance, and he had a little left in the tank at the end, too, showing good stamina with an active and statistically dominant performance, as he outlanded Sjekloca (28-3, 8 KO) easily.

Smith did struggle with his accuracy a bit, but there's a lot of time left for him to make some improvements. This was a pivotal learning experience for him, as he faced a fighter whose only prior losses were to Arthur Abraham, a current world champion at 168 pounds, and Sakio Bika, a former champ at the weight.

Smith did his best work in round four, opening up with some big body shots that hurt Sjekloca, but the veteran was able to survive the round, something most of Smith's prior foes haven't been able to do against him.

What did you think of Smith's performance today? How far off is he from the real world class?