A fall from the third rope ended Bernard Hopkins' hopes of ending his 28-year professional career with a flourish.
The 51-year-old American veteran fighter, who planned to make his fight at the Inglewood Forum his farewell party, was knocked out for the first time in his life in what he projected would be the end of his boxing career.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm leaving sad... But I can't take anything away from Joe Smith, he's a strong and powerful fighter, but tonight he was the better man. I definitely won't be coming back, I promised. I want to be with my family," acknowledged Executioner Hopkins, who assured that despite the ending, he would not put on gloves again as his time has passed.
The Philadelphia fighter started the first round slow with a hungry and aggressive Joe Smith, who landed the best punches thanks to the number of shots thrown.
Hopkins, who usually takes his time to get into rhythm, let the first four rounds go in favor of the fighter 27 years his junior, and then with short but more effective combinations started to regain ground.
To avoid Smith's punishment, Hopkins took refuge on the ropes for most of the fight until a series of five shots in the eighth round sent him out between the second and third ropes, causing him to fall backwards to the canvas.
"There was no push, I can't take anything away from Smith, he was a great opponent. Very strong," acknowledged BHop, who left his record at 55-8-2 with 32 knockouts, while the young man from Long Island added his 23rd career victory with 19 knockouts.
Without fame or glory
Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defended the World Boxing Organization title for the first time by defeating African Thabiso Mchunu in the ninth round, after visiting the canvas twice more, improving his record to 11-0 with 10 knockouts.
In his debut in America, Ukrainian ex-Olympian Usyk had trouble maintaining control of the fight due to his opponent's complicated style, who with waist movements and taking advantage of his smaller stature managed to neutralize the champion's attacks at medium range.
The defining moment of the fight came in the ninth round with a powerful left hook that hurt Mchunu, and after visiting the canvas, the referee saw it necessary to stop the action.