TOMASZ ADAMEK TKO end of 7 O'NEIL BELL

Well, what was all that about? O’Neil Bell, while being outboxed by Tomasz Adamek in their IBF cruiser title eliminator in Poland, still seemed to have the so-called puncher’s chance — although the chance was receding round by round. Then, after seven rounds, Bell simply surrendered.

I cannot off the top of my head think of a more inexcusable capitulation in a big fight with the obvious exception of Roberto Duran giving up against Sugar Ray Leonard.

Adamek, looking strong and quick at 198 pounds, boxed a smart, technically flawless fight. Well aware of Bell’s punching power, he kept on the move, chose his moments to attack and didn’t linger long enough for the Jamaican fighter to fire back.

I must admit I believed that Bell would be constantly dangerous in the fight, but when he started to back up in a puzzled way in the seventh rounds — as if trying to work out what to do next — I felt for the first time that Adamek had the fight safely in the bag.

Then, at the end of the round, Bell simply told his corner he had had enough.

Although Bell suffered a flash knockdown in the first round he hadn’t been excessively punished in a fight that was shown live on ESPN Classic. In fact, I did not recall one moment when Bell was seriously rocked, and he wasn’t bloodied or beaten up.

The frustration and disappointment of his promoter, Leon Margules, was apparent afterwards as he headed towards Bell’s corner. I lip-read the words: "What happened?” What happened, indeed!

Many, many fighters have endured far, far worse than this, in fights of far lesser importance, and kept going. On Telefutura on Friday we saw the veteran Norberto Bravo hang in there for 12 rounds although getting a pasting from Freddy Hernandez — and Bravo twice could not have been blamed for staying down when dropped by body shots.

Say what you want about Clinton Woods’s uncompetitive showing against Antonio Tarver but at least he took his lumps for the full 12 rounds.

All credit to Adamek for boxing such a clever, disciplined fight. He did the job he was supposed to do. Bell, though, was a colossal disappointment. It makes me appreciate all the more the legion of boxers who, even if they know, they cannot win, are determined at least to have the satisfaction of going down fighting.