C'mon SMITHO!

This thread is dedicated to Paul Smith who takes on a genuine p4pder in Andre Ward on Saturday night.

Yes its at a catchweight

yes Smith is talor made cannon fodder for Ward

yes Smith looks woefully out of shape

yes its a disgrace of a fight in reality

yes Smith is scouse

but there is a chance for a major upset. Ward might be ring rusty and I think as Brits we should get behind Smith so please feel free to leave your comments of support for one of our own.

C'mon SMITHO.

He's going to get pancaked and won't win a second of any rounds.

Is this on TV?

It is on Sky, double bill with Broner vs Porter.

Good luck to Smith, he hasn't a hope!

I like Smith but can see him getting pulled out of this half way through.

Nico the gman wrote:I like Smith but can see him getting pulled out of this half way through his ring walk if his trainer has any f*cking sense.

I agree Nico, Smith knows he's on a hiding to nothing but I have a feeling Ward will want to sent out a warning to everyone and Smith to be hammered even more badly than anyone possibly imagined.

Therefore given my skill at predicting fights, Ward to win a controversial SD

Smith 10/1 to get the win.

If you bet £10, you lose £10.

If you imagine Paul smith at his very best and Andre ward at his very worst, you can open your mind to the possibility that maybe, just maybe smith lands a punch in between getting battered from pillar to post and back again.

I can't envisage a hammering any worse than the one I'm already imagining Dave. I suspect ward will want the rounds and use smith as a heavy bag for as long as he sees fit. He'll probably chuck in a few headbutts for good measure to check that he hasn't lost the old magic.

10/1 ?

I'm not sure what the odds are on a fighter tripping over his boot laces and knocking himself out on the corner post... But they're about the odds I'd need before punting on smith in this one.

C'mon smithy land the Darnell Boone... You can do it!

Nope can't imagine it at all. Ward wins easy, hope I am wrong.

I do like Smith, he has a lot of heart, unfortunately just not the talent to beat the elite.

After checking the odds again today, they are nearer 20/1. Pointless info mind you.

How many rounds does Smith last? I see him being pulled after 7-8. Some say he went 12 twice with AA, but Ward will hit him with every punch, and it's at 172, and Ward will want to put on a show. I can't see Smith being able to compete even in the slightest, sadly. His only hope is Ward is very rusty and the old shoulder issues are still there.

Smith is probably 5/1 to land a punch. Still wouldn't catch me putting any money on it.

Seanusarrilius wrote:How many rounds does Smith last? I see him being pulled after 7-8. Some say he went 12 twice with AA, but Ward will hit him with every punch, and it's at 172, and Ward will want to put on a show. I can't see Smith being able to compete even in the slightest, sadly. His only hope is Ward is very rusty and the old shoulder issues are still there.  

8 rounds is a good Shout. Think Ward will want to get the rounds in and just box his head off. Maybe if Smith is taking too much punishment, Gallagher will pull him out.

Lets face it. Ward is basically as good as Floyd and Smith is nowhere even close to that level.

Yeah, this isn't going to go the distance, IMO. Smith is Euro level and a small SM. He will be worn out by Ward grappling him around the ring and then stopped.

DAVE667 wrote: I have a feeling Ward will want to sent out a warning to everyone

That warning being he can batter a podgy Euro-level fighter

If god deserted Ward and turned up in Smith's corner he still wouldn't win.

Smith seems to have a big enough ego now...Lord help us If he wins...

Apparently fighting an ancient Abraham makes him above Brit class........

If Smith is world class heaven help us..

Can't make a case for Smith winning. Would like to see a bit of a show from Ward, nice to see him blow away the cobwebs. That being said I hope Smith does himself justice, just don't see what he can do to trouble Ward. He's never outboxing him and I think Ward is a lot tougher physically if he tries to rough it. Mismatch.

If Ward's inactivativity catches up with him....

Won't that mean Smith despite losing to all the other champions (Once Groves beats Badou)....

Lineal and true champion ???

Yeh looking Forward to Porter vs Broner. Great scrap. That's the headline event for me this weekend for sure.

Ward is boring, he never fights, he never travels, he makes excuses, he is just downright dull.

Yet another soft touch opponent because the last one was tough....cough cough.

Hope he retires soon.

P4P my hoop. If he fight two to three times a year then fair enough.

Be interesting to see who he fights after Smith.....maybe Buglioni? Possibly Cleverley? Who knows, Brian Vera?

Makes excuses for cleaning up his division...

Leave it out....

Can't see Smith getting a look in for this fight. It's an obvious tune-up as Ward's been inactive for a stupidly long amount of time.

How long does it go? Depends how much ring rust Ward has. I reckon he'll be ready to finish the job some time around the 7th.

Can't see Smith getting a look in for this fight. It's an obvious tune-up as Ward's been inactive for a stupidly long amount of time.

How long does it go? Depends how much ring rust Ward has. I reckon he'll be ready to finish the job some time around the 7th.

Paul Smith weighed in at 176 for this, biggest fight of his life and he missed weight

Ward will pancake this stiff inside 3 rounds.

4.6 pounds over a catchweight limit? Ha. I remember him blasting Fielding as a joke for a similar incident.

A career super middle, can't make light heavy. Always thought he looked fleshy at 168... Ward's going to think someone's sent him a rolypolygram.

Clearly smith:
- thinks he can overpower ward with the extra four pounds
- wants to gain a psychological advantage by coming in the bigger man
- knows he's going to get pasted so couldn't be arsed to train

Delete as appropriate

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Smith seems to have a big enough ego now...Lord help us If he wins...

Apparently fighting an ancient Abraham makes him above Brit class........

If Smith is world class heaven help us..

Fighting and LOSING to an ancient AA

I just can't wait to watch Porter vs Broner. Think it's a really competitive fight. Going to go with a Broner UD.....but I'll change my mind again soon.

Do you have any thoughts on the topic this thread is about MM?

That's two fights in one weekend tainted by stupid catchweights and general weight issues, seems to be a common occurence now and it has got worse since Haymon started his crappy PBC.

Don't know what Smith is playing at really? He's moaned that people are being spiteful and jealous about his big opportunity but looks like he's giving them more ammunition.

I was one of those who said, get behind him and he shouldn't be begrudged for taking the fight but then he comes in woefully underprepared. What's he doing? When the deck is stacked so dramatically against him, he's got to try and give himself every chance. Coming in overweight is plain dumb. He's blown it already.

My guess Dipper, and it is only a guess, is he believes a significant weight advantage gives him an edge or levels the playing field somewhat. He is probably gambling on the fact that after 19 months out Ward is unlikely to refuse to fight. As you say gives fuel to those who begrudge him this shot, and watching Ward's reaction suggests to me this may well backfire, Andre appeared to be well peed off so may come into the ring with a little extra fire in his belly.

Just unprofessionalism from Smith. A real corker after he stood ringside for the fight Fielding missed weight in and toally blasted him.

Well, I prefer your theory Rowley, to be honest. I suppose flawed logic is more forgivable than him just not being arsed to shift those last few pounds.

Agreed that it will most likely backfire dramatically. See Ward putting the hurt on.

catchweight wrote:Just unprofessionalism from Smith. A real corker after he stood ringside for the fight Fielding missed weight in and toally blasted him.

I know! Absolute pearler.

Haha sorry Paul.

Errrrr yes I do. I think Ward will smash him to pieces in 8 rounds more or less.

We all know that, and yet again ward is fighting someone completely under him. Surprise surprise.

Is that hedging your bets mm8. Either 8 rounds, or more than 8 rounds or less than 8 rounds? Sounds like one of my predictions.

Ha ha yeh fair shout Milky.

Think I've gone with UD on the prediction thread...but I just don't know....accumulation stoppage around 8 would be my bet. 8-10.

Don't even think Smith has a chance at all. Not even a percent.

A guy coming off two losses against a guy who is recognised as the P4P 2nd in the world by some.....quality opponent a bit like Rodriguez.

But that's what I expect from Ward now. A nice easy scrap to make him look good so he can sell more than 10 tickets next time around.

I've changed my prediction from Ward 10 to 6.........Probably retiring in his corner !!.

Think Smith's going to do a Barker against Sturm and bag the final payday.........

Can't be that far over and taking it seriously................Knows he isn't going to win.........Groves is Euro champ, Callum soon to be British and he's lost to all the other champs bar Badou who is fighting George....

No options after this...........Stevo and Kovo at 175 kill him..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I've changed my prediction from Ward 10 to 6.........Probably retiring in his corner !!.

Think Smith's going to do a Barker against Sturm and bag the final payday.........

Can't be that far over and taking it seriously................Knows he isn't going to win.........Groves is Euro champ, Callum soon to be British and he's lost to all the other champs bar Badou who is fighting George....

No options after this...........Stevo and Kovo at 175 kill him..

But he's proved he's world level by getting beat by AA twice, Truss! Honestly mate, you need to pay more attention when Halling is talking or you'll never learn.

mobilemaster8 wrote:Ha ha yeh fair shout Milky.

Think I've gone with UD on the prediction thread...but I just don't know....accumulation stoppage around 8 would be my bet. 8-10.

Don't even think Smith has a chance at all. Not even a percent.

A guy coming off two losses against a guy who is recognised as the P4P 2nd in the world by some.....quality opponent a bit like Rodriguez.

But that's what I expect from Ward now. A nice easy scrap to make him look good so he can sell more than 10 tickets next time around.

I genuinely don't see what the problem was with Ward facing Rodriguez, a solid ranked opponent who was reasonably well known by virtue of being a son beater of sorts, anyone who cleans up and beats all the champions is not a cherry picker.

I agree we have a guy that's beat everyone at his weight and the number 1 at the one above... taking crap for easy fights..

When 99% of champs fight stiff after stiff..

Hasn't GGG taken every available fight at middleweight also?

Some more news on the weight issues, Ward apparently agreed that Smith could rehydrate to 181lbs. This morning he weighed 184.4lbs. So after losing $45k yesterday he has given up a further $15k today.

Yeah, just saw that from Fat Dan, Hampo. That's $60k out of his $225k purse that's gone up in smoke. God only knows what he's playing at.

What a clown. 60k p1ssed up the wall. This isnt even a difficult weigh to make.

catchweight wrote:What a clown. 60k p1ssed up the wall. This isnt even a difficult weigh to make.

Paul Smith might disagree.

Saw Smith interviewed and he was far from his coc.k sure normal self. He could be in for a bad beating.

Fail to prepare. prepare to fail.

I disagree with him missing weight but he's quite clearly doing anything he can to limit the beating he's going to receive, would have been better off making weight and folding but hey ho.