Goldsmith destroys Russian in 2 rounds

Goldsmith celebrates with his team after destroying Mamedov

MARAUDING middle Bradley Goldsmith may be only 12 months away from a British title shot, his trainer believes.

And in front of his huge fanbase on Saturday, the Coventry prospect beat out a warning to the division’s contenders by blasting Russian Vasif Mamedov early.

Fighting in his home city for the first time in an unbeaten 11 fight career, Bradley dumped Mamedov twice before his corner wisely signalled surrender at the end of the second. It was scheduled for six rounds.

Victory on GBM’s mammoth Skydome show was a statement by Goldsmith, trained at Dominic Ingle’s Sheffield gym.

Mamedov, a man with flattened features that suggest he’s struck daily in the face by a frying pan, may have lost the vast majority of his 56 fights, but he can usually be relied on to last the distance. New Midlands light-middle champ Ashlee Eales, who carries KO power, had to settle for a points win last October.

He was simply blown away by Bradley, a local favourite who flogged a staggering 700 tickets for his home-coming.

“Tonight was a childhood dream ticked off,” he said in his dressing room. “I used to walk past this venue every day. I enjoyed every second of it, that’s why I made my ring-walk longer than usual.

“Seven hundred tickets sold! It’s crazy and I’m very fortunate. I reckon the bars round here should give me commission.”

Goldsmith’s fans had a long wait for their fighter. The show, with a programme of bouts that topped double figures, began at 5.30 and Bradley served up the finale.

It certainly didn’t dampen supporters’ enthusiasm. And in a distinctly chilly arena, Goldsmith stoked a fire with his fierce combinations.

There were initial fears the ending may be inconclusive. Mamedov wheeled away after a head clash sent blood spilling from his right eyebrow and the wound was inspected by the ringside doctor.

With time seemingly running out, Mamedov was forced to take risks – and Goldsmith capitalised.

Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he dramatically dropped the visitor with a peach of a left hook in the second.

Mamedov rose quickly, but was soon down again courtesy of a cluster of punches capped by left hooks to body and head.

This time, he hauled himself upright at “four”, trudged to his corner and was correctly pulled out at the session’s end. He faced only further pain and punishment in the third.

Goldsmith was cold, calculated and clinical.

“It was a good performance,” said Ingle, “Mamedov is a tough lad. The plan is to get Bradley an eight and 10 rounder, push him up the rankings, and look at a British title fight in the next 12 months.”

With each performance, Bradley looks more like a champion in waiting. And he may not have to wait too long.