Dalton Smith (6-0, 5 KOs) produced a huge overhand right in the fifth round to flatten Nathan Bennett (9-2, 2 KOs) on the opening night of Eddie Hearn’s Fight Camp in Essex.

Smith, once a leading light of the Great Britain amateur squad, looked too good all round for Bennett. He rocked Bennett at the end of the first round, but had to work hard before settling matters with a single shot.

There was an aggressive start from Bennett, but Smith was in total control by the end of the first round as a left hook caught Bennett on the temple and rocket him to his boots. A follow-up right hand almost saw Bennett touch down but the bell came before Smith could really press his advantage.

Any thoughts that would lead to a quick night for Smith were quickly dispelled, though, as Bennett worked his way back into things in the second and he used he height well to frustrate Smith.

As the seconds ticked away at the end of the fifth round, though, Smith brought matter to an abrupt end, catching Bennett with a booming right hand that landed just behind the ear and sent him crashing to the floor. 

Despite Bennett being in obvious distress, referee Ian John-Lewis took up the count, abandoning it eight and then attempting to manhandle Bennett into the recovery position. Bennett received oxygen from paramedics in the ring, but was soon back on his feet.

It was comfortably the best win of the 23-year-old Smith’s fledgling six-fight professional career

“Nathan’s a good fighter, even in the first round he caught me with a good shot so I knew I had to be switched on,” Smith said.

“When I was walking to the ring it felt like I was coming out to spar but then you have to realise why you are here, you have a job to do and you have to be switched on. But when I got in the ring, it just felt the same and you block everything around you.”