Paul Smith to fight Darren Mcdermott?

[Spud]

Whilst McDermott perhaps isn't an "ideal" choice, he's a decent choice I think. His only legitimate loss was to Barker, and that looked like a premature stoppage too (although he was behind clearly in the fight.)

Thats how it works these days, though, he's a credible challnger, but not the most logical choice.

Darren McDermott is not really a credible choice when you take a closer look at his losses at British Title level, and you discover those losses happened at Middleweight - is this another sign of the confidence people have in Smith's abilities?

May I remind you it was only a short time ago there were various "rucks" on here regarding the validity to the claims of how good Paul Smith is and whether he will go onto to fight world class opposition.

Then of course there was a question of whether Paul Smith was going to fight Brian Magee for the European title - we subsequently find out that the biggest reason why that fight did not go ahead is because of "options" on Magee which leads me and others to yet again think on how confident both Team Smith and his promoters are concering his abilities.

I fully understand that Paul Smith wants to win the coveted and prestigious Lonsdale Belt - it would be a fantastic achievement if he does that - many people have tried and failed.

For the record and despite my banter on here - I actually think Paul Smith is better than British title level - however I seriously question the true confidence of Smith and his team - Smith comes on here and clearly states he wants a 50/50 split to fight Brian Magee who is the European Title holder - If Smith is so confident of beating Magee and seriously wants to progress he would have given a lot more ground on the money front to have the chance of winning the coveted European Belt - the confidence in Smith's abilities is further questioned when it is claimed his Team want "options" on Magee to fight Smith.

In the various banter on other threads it was claimed that Smith was now ready to progress as he was a more mature fighter etc etc - Paul Smith went professional in April 2003 - this is how the following fighters have progressed:

Amir Khan - went Professional Jul 05 - now a world champion.

David Haye - Dec 02 - now a world champion.

Kell Brook - Sep 04 - Won the Lonsdale Belt - has fought World Eliminator

Paul McCloskey - Mar 05 - European title holder

Kevin Mitchell - Jul 03 - fought for a world title

Darren Barker - Sep 04 - European title holder

Jamie McDonnell - Sep 05 - European title holder

John Murray - Sep 03 - European title holder

Nathan Cleverley - Jul 05 - European title holder

I could go on - if Smith, his promoter and his team are to believed that Smith is really capable of winning further honours - and if we are to be convinced that he really wants to progress then surely - he needs to get a move on - surely he needs to stop asking for European class wages at British Title level (Brian Magee saga) - the Darren McDermott choice is a poor choice the more I think about it.

Despite my banter I truly believe Paul Smith is a very good fighter - but his desire to win that coveted Lonsdale belt is in my view seriously hampering some very good and realistic opportunities to progress further - in addition "demands" concerning wages and options on other fighters are also going to hamper the progression.

[Lenny]

McDermott is probably Barker's best opponent to date and the majority of non Irish posters on here can't say enough good things about Darren. For me Smith has had two very tough fights at domestic class, I'm not saying he won't reach a higher level but I certainly don't think he is ready for it. A shot against Magee would have been a good step up but that hasn't come off. What would you have them do, send him to Quebec to fight Bute?

Yes McDermott is stepping up a weight but he has the size to do it. He is a good domestic operator. Smith has fought 2 good domestic fighters at super middle, that's it. For me, spending a bit more time at this level and securing the belt outright is no bad thing.

[Spud]

McDermott is probably Barker's best opponent to date and the majority of non Irish posters on here can't say enough good things about Darren. For me Smith has had two very tough fights at domestic class, I'm not saying he won't reach a higher level but I certainly don't think he is ready for it. A shot against Magee would have been a good step up but that hasn't come off. What would you have them do, send him to Quebec to fight Bute?

Yes McDermott is stepping up a weight but he has the size to do it. He is a good domestic operator. Smith has fought 2 good domestic fighters at super middle, that's it. For me, spending a bit more time at this level and securing the belt outright is no bad thing.

Lenny,

If Smith wants that Lonsdale Belt then fair enough - he may have to accept that good opportunities like Magee was might not come around that often - when those opportunities are there you dont ask for world class wages - you accept what is on offer and then demand the wage when you are the European title holder - in addition you dont give your opponent more confidence by your promoter asking for options on your opponent - for me whilst I fully understand its common place for the promoter to protect his investment its not a good sign for the "home" fighter.

With regards to Smith's progression onto the European level - do you honestly believe the likes of McDermott are a test especially when he has been beaten at domestic class level already - are you telling me there are no Super Middleweights who are incapable of giving him a test as much as McDermott??

[Horse]

Best two wins:

McDermott - Bendall & Butler
Groves - Adamu & Samuels
Quigley - Dodson & King
Dilks - Ajisafe & Boyle
DeGale - Horton & Barr
Anderson - Mendy & King

I prefer not to use your formula.

The six fighters mentioned are much more worthy of a shot than McDermott. He is moving up a division on the back of a win against Danny Butler and being handed a title shot straight away.

How can they be "much more" deserving when their level of opposition is not as good as McDermott's?

Is it just because they have been fighting at Super Middleweight? I don't think that makes them any more deserving.

[whicker]

Darren McDermott is not really a credible choice when you take a closer look at his losses at British Title level, and you discover those losses happened at Middleweight - is this another sign of the confidence people have in Smith's abilities?

.

Don't forget that one of his defeats would not, by the new rule, even be called a defeat.

I do see the general point you make, but I still feel it could be a decent fight.

[Kirk Cadden]

Hi people,

I just thought that i would let you know that Macca underwent brain surgery on Saturday night and had piece of his skull removed - i wont go into details as i dont think thats fair on him or his family but it goes without saying that he will never box again. As a close friend of Darrens i am happy to say that he is now out of the critical ward and is doing well.

I would like to wish him all the best in what is no doubt the biggest fight of his life but one i know he will win!!!!

All the Best Mac

Kirk

[Lenny]

Shit, all the best to him Kirk