Boxer rushed to hospital after sickening KO on Anthony Joshua undercard

Boxer Lenin Castillo was taken out of the ring on a stretcher and rushed to hospital after being knocked out by Callum Smith.

Smith was making his light-heavyweight debut on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's clash with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.

And he wasted little time in making his mark, brutally knocking Lenin down and out in the second round.

The beaten man appeared to be shaking on the canvas and was quickly given lengthy medical treatment.

He was eventually carried from the ring as a concerned-looking Smith was announced as the winner.

Castillo was taken straight to hospital but promoter Eddie Hearn revealed the fighter was responsive.

"A horrible, brutal knockout. Castillo is responsive and on his way to hospital," he said.

Former super-middleweight world champion Smith was fighting for the first time since he was outpointed by pound-for-pound No.1 Canelo Alvarez last year.

Smith's defeat by the Mexican superstar was the first of his professional career and prompted him to move up a division.

His brutal KO of Castilo suggests his power has carried up to 175lb as he eyes another title tilt.

Smith had controlled the first session against his experienced rival before detonating his right hook in the second round.

Castillo dropped to the canvas and the fight was immediately waved off.

Smith initially celebrated before the gravity of the situation sank in and he waited pensively alongside his three boxing brothers at ringside.

A hush also fell around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London before a ripple of applause accompanied Castilo out of the ring.

Fighter Jason Quigley and coach Dave Coldwell were among those to offer their prayers for the stricken Castillo.

"Wow, Callum Smith, what a statement, love to see Callum fight Bivol I think he wins and becomes world champion again," Quigley tweeted. "Thoughts and prayers with Castillo."

Smith's victory came two hours before Joshua walked to the ring to defend his heavyweight world titles against Usyk.

Earlier in the evening, Florian Marku laboured to a points win over Maxim Prodan.

Source: Read Full Article