Lenin Castillo 'responsive' following brutal knockout

Lenin Castillo ‘responsive’ after being rushed to hospital following brutal knockout in light heavyweight bout against Callum Smith in distressing scenes before Anthony Joshua bout

  • Boxer Lenin Castillo suffered a distressing knockout against Callum Smith 
  • The Dominican was knocked out in round two in North London on Saturday
  • Castillo’s legs appeared to tremble and he was quickly attended to by medics 
  • The boxer is understood to be responsive and has been taken to hospital 

Lenin Castillo is responsive but has been rushed to hospital after being knocked out by Callum Smith on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

An overhand right from the Liverpudlian midway through the second round caught Castillo (now 21-4-1, 16KOs) flush on the temple, leading referee Bob Williams to immediately halt the contest after the Dominican had hit the canvas.

Smith (28-1, 20KOs) jumped on the rope but cut short his celebrations in concern for his stricken foe, whose legs appeared to be trembling as paramedics swiftly entered the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Lenin Castillo is responsive and has been taken to hospital after suffering a brutal knockout

Castillo, 33, was treated for a few minutes where he lay before being taken away on a stretcher to applause from those in attendance after the light-heavyweight contest.

It is understood Castillo was conscious before being led away in an ambulance and promoter Eddie Hearn wrote on Twitter: “A horrible brutal knockout. Castillo is responsive and on his way to hospital.”

Smith, 31, was making his first foray at 175lbs after suffering the first defeat of his professional career last December, when Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez ripped away his WBA super-middleweight title.

The Dominican was felled by a heavy shot from Callum Smith in the second round in London

He has since parted company with long-time trainer Joe Gallagher to link up with Buddy McGirt and Smith showed he has carried his power to the new division against an opponent who had never previously been stopped.

An uneventful first three minutes was followed by a dramatic end, with Smith’s short right hand finding its target to brutally end proceedings.




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