James DeGale is as cocksure as he is buttery-smooth inside the ropes. And after claiming a first title in just a ninth professional outing, in Liverpool , the 24-year-old can bat away any accusation of failing to walk the walk.
DeGale, though, does need to temper his attitude a little. His ring craft was blighted by an ongoing array of gesticulations and he seems more concerned with an ongoing dialogue with the crowd than focusing solely on landing the blows.
His display included sticking his tongue out at Smith, and an eye-balling of his opponent at the close of the second. And, when warned by the referee, Howard Foster, for a low blow in the sixth, appearing to use his fist to make a rude gesture.
In the seventh, DeGale found his backside on the canvas but he had merely slipped. Before and after he was a blur of flicking jabs, hooks and lefts that cut Smith and drew the local boy continually on to damage with impressive skill.
In the ninth, DeGale became the champion. Lefts were raining down on Smith, who lacked no courage and, after he attempted to rally, a final left snapped his head back and more punches followed. Foster finished the fight after two minutes and eight seconds of the round.
Earlier, Nathan Cleverly was pretty far from erudite in claiming the vacant WBO interim light-heavyweight title against Nadjib Mohammedi, a 25-year-old Frenchman only called into action late as a replacement for Alejandro Lakatos.
The decision was unanimous, the performance sluggish. 115-112, 116-111, 115-113 the judges deemed Cleverly had triumphed yet he was smart enough to concede he had been unconvincing.
"That was frustrating," he said. "The change of opponent didn't do any good. This guy was a mover, so awkward. I saw no videos and before I knew it he was moving like Naz [Prince Naseem]. But it's the sign of a true champion that I came back and won."
Kell Brook retained his status as the mandatory challenger for Manny Pacquiao's WBO welterweight title after he took down Philip Kotey, a Ghanaian who appeared far from keen to share the ring with him, inside two rounds.
Brook unloaded one stinging right that slid Kotey backwards before following with a left that further staggered the 28-year-old's senses.
Warren was unsure whether Brook might challenge Pacquiao. "We'll see if he [Pacquiao] vacates it," he said.
Matthew Macklin defended his European middleweight belt with a disappointing unanimous win.
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