Parker oozes class in halting game Shane

Connor Parker works the body. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

CONNOR Parker took a stride back to where he wants to be with stoppage victory over Tewkesbury journeyman Shane Smith on Friday.

Bearded Smith is often beaten, but few prevent him from hearing the final bell. Therefore, Parker’s performance at the Hangar Venue, Wolverhampton, must be considered impressive.

The Burton boxer has mixed in very good class, had a long unbeaten record before being stopped by Sam Maxwell for the WBO European super-lightweight title and was tipped for big things.

Frankly, that pedigree was the difference against Smith, pulled out by his corner at the end of the fourth.

Good fighters possess precision and Parker’s precision meant Smith could not fiddle his way to a decision loss in the scheduled six rounder.

The 30-year-old southpaw is very well schooled – nothing spectacular, but nothing wasted. Parker only threw punches he knew would connect. That’s what champions do.

And those shots to the body landed with such sickening regularity that you could near see the strength and fighting spirit drain from Smith.

Initially, referee Ryan Churchill and sections of the crowd appeared surprised by Adam Harper’s decision to end the encounter. The former English light-middleweight champ – Smith’s trainer and manager – pointed to lumps and bumps around his fighter’s right eye.

I thought it was the correct, compassionate call. Smith (11st 5lbs) hadn’t been wobbled or hurt, but was a round away from being hurt. He wasn’t winning anything and Parker (11st 3lbs) found another gear in the fourth, drilling shots to Smith’s body.

Shane appeared to be becoming increasingly dispirited. The body language would not have been lost on Harper.

Parker, back in action after six months away, said: “I’m looking to get a big fight at either welter or light-middle. I’m 30, I’m a man, I’m more mature, I’m in better shape.”

Smith was broken down patiently and clinically, the pressure increased with each round.

Poker faced, Parker worked the jab to head and body in the first, introduced left hooks in the second and by the third was putting more meat into his shots. Lead uppercuts proved particularly effective in the session.

To his credit, Smith tried to stem the tide in the fourth with scuffing shots. It was never enough to stop Parker selecting body punches and planting them with withering accuracy.

Parker has lost only one of 17 and, on this showing, is moving back towards contender status.