It’s a good thing Stephen Smith and Francisco Vargas fought on HBO Boxing After Dark, because the injury Smith suffered to his ear is too gruesome for prime time. But hey, you’re here for a reason — so brace yourself.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in a boxing match...in an ear that was not bitten." - @AndreWard on Smith's gruesome ear injury that stopped #VargasSmith #SalidoRoman pic.twitter.com/SGVntIDta0
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) December 10, 2017
The split down Smith’s ear was so bad that the fight had to be stopped — and rightfully so. There was absolutely no way to continue or stop the bleeding. Smith was taken to hospital where he was stitched up in what some are calling one of the worst injuries in recent boxing history.
Former champion and HBO commentator Andre Ward said of the injury:
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that in a boxing match in a ear that was not bitten.”
Comparisons are naturally being drawn to Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997. While it’s not as viscerally gross, there’s still something horrific about seeing an ear split down the middle like that.
Thanks very much for all your supportive messages last night, read them all and they mean a lot. Went to hospital and got my ear stitched back up so hopefully all will heal well. Thanks again for all the love and support. Have a good Christmas everyone x pic.twitter.com/cOun7ST7qX
— Stephen Smith (@SwiftySmith) December 10, 2017
Get well soon, dude.