Goldsmith uncorks a perfect shot to body

Bradley Goldsmith and his team after the dramatic win

BRADLEY Goldsmith sparked mayhem among his massive fanbase by uncorking a perfect body shot to KO Egidijius Zukas in two rounds at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, last night (Friday).

The Lithuanian dropped to his knees after the left – thrown from a southpaw stance – connected in the second and was unable to stir life back into his legs until long after referee Kevin Parker completed his count at two minutes 20 seconds.

While it lasted, Coventry’s Goldsmith – tipped for big things – had too much of everything for Zukas, who lost for the seventh time in nine fights.

It was a faultless performance from Bradley, trained in Sheffield by Dominic Ingle. The BCB show was dubbed “Havoc at the Hangar”, yet Goldsmith (11st 10lbs 4oz) dismantled Zukas with a precision that was near surgical.

It was not hurried, it was a study in graceful violence.

A late addition to the show, Bradley’s cultured shots caused damage from the opening minute and by the end, the left side of Zukas’ face was badly marked, his nose bloody.

Bradley, now unbeaten in eight, is straining at the leash to move to title level and, on this evidence,  is ready to step up.

“We’re taking things step by step,” said Ingle. “In September-October, we’ll be looking to step-up in bigger fights.

“At the moment, with the sparring he’s been getting, the performances are just the icing on the cake. He’s been getting great sparring with Kell Brook. He also sparred Aaron McKenna and Sergio Garcia.”

Goldsmith was delighted with his performance, as brief as it was. “I’m buzzing,” he told me. “I could’ve got him out of there in the first. I haven’t fought since March, and it was a chance to try the things me and Dom have been working on.”

Pointing to his noisy army of supporters, he added: “Not bad for a fight taken at a week’s notice.”

Zukas (11st 11lbs 2oz) was certainly the perfect foil for Goldsmith to air new tricks and ticks.

He spent much of the bout as a southpaw, slid jabs in the East European’s face and whipped home left uppercuts.

By the second Zukas was being punished to the body, a straight right downstairs served as a warning of the damage that would follow.

The end, however, was sudden, the punch paralysing.

Bradley Goldsmith is being described as something special. Last night – admittedly against limited opposition – he looked something special.