Callum Smith secured a hard-fought victory over Joshua Buatsi in a thrilling light-heavyweight clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The judges awarded Smith the win with scores of 119-110, 115-113 and 116-112 in a terrific bout between the British rivals.
The result marks Buatsi's first professional defeat, whilst delivering what many consider to be Smith's finest performance to date.
The bout featured on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev's rematch against Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia.
Callum Smith beat Joshua Buatsi after a thrilling contest
Reuters
Buatsi entered the contest as the WBO light-heavyweight interim champion, defending his title and his position as mandatory challenger for the main event winner.
The fight was considered too close to call beforehand, with Buatsi entering as a slight favourite.
The fight lived up to expectations, delivering an epic battle that had spectators on their feet throughout the contest.
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was among those who couldn't remain seated during the back-and-forth war.
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The intensity of the bout was matched by the crowd's appreciation, with both fighters receiving a standing ovation as the final bell rang.
The all-British affair proved to be one of the most exciting contests on the night's card in the Middle East.
Smith suffered a significant cut to his right eye during the intense battle.
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Anthony Joshua was up on his feet after being stunned by the contest between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi
DAZN
Despite the injury, Smith's performance impressed the judges who scored the contest decisively in his favour.
The official scorecards read 119-110, 115-113 and 116-112, all in favour of the Liverpudlian.
The wide range in the judges' scoring reflected the competitive nature of the bout, with one judge seeing it as a clear victory while others scored it much closer.
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Callum Smith put on a career-defining performance in Riyadh
Reuters
The victory marked a career-defining moment for Smith, who delivered what many consider his best performance in the ring.
The win was particularly significant as it handed the rising talent Buatsi his first defeat in professional boxing.
Smith's triumph in this barnstormer of a contest demonstrated his ability to prevail in a high-stakes matchup against one of British boxing's most promising prospects.
The result cements Smith's position as a formidable force in the light-heavyweight division.
