smith talks about the fight

[hagman1989]

or maybe not as there dosent seem to be a congrats james in here anywere
CRESTFALLEN Paul Smith admits he neglected his game plan in favour of hunting the dramatic knockout.

The Liverpool fighter lost his British super-middleweight title to James DeGale at the ECHO Arena on Saturday after referee Howard Foster waved the contest off in the ninth round.

Smith was behind on the scorecards but still on his feet when the call came and has blasted the decision to bring the title showdown to an early conclusion.

DeGale served up a display of polished boxing to take control of the bout for the Lonsdale Belt and though Smith acknowledges the speed of the 2008 Olympic gold medallist, the brave city boxer says the Londoner does not posses knockout power.

But it was the decision of referee Foster - at two minutes and eight seconds - to bring the curtain down on his 13 month reign as domestic 12st king which has irked Smith – that and his failure to implement the tactics worked on in the build up.

“I’m not moaning or having sour grapes but I don’t know what the referees expect you to do when you’re fighting someone like DeGale,” said Smith, who now moves to a 29-2 professional record.

“He’s always going to throw lots of punches but they are not powerful, he isn’t a puncher.

“I was caught with many shots that I didn’t see coming but they didn’t knock me out. If you’re a puncher then those shots floor people.

“What did the ref want me to do? Take a knee and the count?

“He should have let me stand and fight back because I was the champion. He should have shown more faith in me because I have had 30 fights and have got a bit more nouse than he gave me credit for.

“I was always looking for the big shot because I knew if I caught him I know I would’ve knocked him out. But I should’ve boxed and got behind the jab, I should’ve done a lot better than I did.

“I should’ve worked off the jab and kept the pressure on him, that was the game plan.

“However it didn’t seem to work because he was very, very awkward, the most awkward man I have ever been in the ring with. As I threw the jab he would come round the back with his hand speed.”

Understandably Smith was struggling to come to terms with the manner of his performance and the way in which his title was taken away from him.

The popular city fighter has also said as good as DeGale is, the new British champion may not be all the up cracked up to be and doubts still remain over his confidence.

“He was what I expected him to be, nothing special and I know I could beat him,” added Smith.

“But I lost the fight and made some terrible mistakes. I was getting caught with shots I should not been getting caught with. When things were not working, I started thinking too much which is when I start struggling. When I allow things to come naturally then I’m at my best. I started to panic when the knockout hadn’t come. I hurt him a few times.

“He is a terribly dirty fighter and was warned four times about the head going in but not once deducted a point. I got a cut from another head clash and have a big bump round the back of my ear like an egg from his head coming in.

“ He low blowed me twice as well. If that had been me then I feel I would have been only able to get away with so much.

“DeGale is obviously good with his awkwardness and speed. He’s got a good boxing brain but no power. I maintain he has terrible confidence.

“There is loads left for me in this game. allegedly was on the phone yesterday morning and I’m down in London today for a meeting with him.

“He is 100% behind me. I’ve only turned 28 and have plenty of fights left in me.

“I want to thank everyone for turning out.

“The last time I lost I was on my own but the phone has not stopped ringing since the fight and people are getting behind me.”



Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport...#ixzz180Fx0JLL

i know pual posts here but come on this is a bit dilusional to say the least , hes fine in places but like i said not one well done james and "he was what i expected nothing special " line is just plain wrong

this was posted elsewer but i brought it here to see what smiths fellow boxrec posters thin. so?

[jBacca]

Maybe Degale really does rub his opponents up the wrong way, regardless of previous relations?

[hagman1989]

Maybe Degale really does rub his opponents up the wrong way, regardless of previous relations?

whats that got to do with this though . he got outmanned and outclassed , the least he could do is throw and "adda boy james " in there

[Scottrf]

Does seem a very bitter interview. DeGale 'isn't anything special' and Smith 'could beat him', yet barely won a round, and realistically was outclassed. I don't mind this talk before a fight, but afterwards you should congratulate your opponent.

I hope it's one of those things where he's just upset and struggling to come to terms with losing a fight he thought he could win, but it doesn't come across well.

[sendo]

Degale was dirty with his big head though, definitely butted Smith at least once. Also although Degale landed a lot he was hardly wobbling Smith around and that big head is too easy a target.

I expect Degale to get to beyond Euro level, but not convinced he can be a top fighter at world level. If he had a great trainer, but Jim Mc is British level.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I don't know how soon after the fight this interview was taken but I'm guessing it was pretty soon and the pain of the defeat was still very raw to Smith.

IMO when he is next interviewed or logs on here (presuming he has watched the figh back) he will acknowledge he was beaten by the better man.

[hurlock]

like has been said above, that interview was probably soon after & smith's pride took a kicking & he would of felt incensed.

i would of liked to hear what instructions smith's corner was giving him aswell :!:

degale aint a banger, but he's hurtfull & smith was getting caught flush from round 1 & he looked heavy legged & couldnt even go to degale in the end. he wasnt on the ropes rolling he was getting bashed up & never had an answer. i felt choked for him at the time.
smith landed with some big shot's & aint the one hit wonder he think's he is & degale has a great chin & i think smith would have to be continul in the same manner degale was wiyth his punches to get a stoppage.he got beat in every department.

[Hagler2002]

Sour grapes in my opinion, De Gale walked the walk and certainly talked the talk. It seems Smith doesn't like it one little bit

[lefthook82]

think he must have taken too many

[likethisone]

Embarrassing stuff from Smith.

[bennie]

Paul is a good fighter and a good guy. He is just trying to live with himself at the moment.

[Glyn Leach]

When he looks back on this interview once the dust has settled, I'd be surprised if Smigga doesn't think: 'Uuurgh, did I really say that?' It doesn't look good but people shouldn't hold it against him IMO. As has been pointed out, he was still raw at that moment. We all say things we might later regret in the heat of the moment.

[statmanjohn]

I agree, no doubt he'll look back differently on the fight after a while.
He just wanted that win so bad in front of home town.

Anyone can sound out like that in the heat of the moment....

[lefty]

I dont know why people are criticising smith,yes it could just be sour grapes but on the same token that could be his honest opinion that degale isnt that great!Degale looks more awkward to box than anything to me.He's got very long arms and pretty fast hands and he also loops alot of his shots which makes them hard to deal with.I dont think anyone can say that degale is anything special until he's stepped upto world level even against the likes of robert stieglitz or karoly balzsay.With all due respect to smith who's a good fighter he hadnt proved that he was above domestic level so nobody truely knows how good degale is.One thing I would say is i think degale would/will probably beat groves though,not so much because he so much more skilled but because groves defense is so leaky combined with the fact that his chin looks a little suspect!

[beagleboy]

Same old Scousers

Always whinging

[reggaereggae]

Same old Scousers

Always whinging

hhahahahah

I did the think the stoppage was early, but Degale was winning every round.

The 'opponent' on FW shows always seem to be stopped early; esp against the big prospects - EG Dilks against degale a few seconds before the end of the round etc.

FW's prospects get given every chance; even when they should be well stopped - Khan / Enzo

[Adam1991]

DeGale is class. You don't box the ears off a fellow like Paul Smith in your ninth pro fight unless you are going places. Smith was a top amateur himself and is a high calibre domestic operator. Along with Frankie Gavin, James DeGale is one of two, current British prospects who have the tools to move to the very top of the game. I think that when Paul has taken a week or two to go over the way things turned out, he'll accept that sport is all about levels and that his level is a good bit lower than DeGale's. That's life.

but he is a first class C**T and i would love nothing more than to see him fail miserably,go bankrupt and have to work on the bins for the rest of his life the little arsehole.. but yeah no doubt about it he is world classs

[lefty]

He has a tongue in cheek humour that many miss. Don't take his comments the wrong way.

no he's just arrogant!

[Deserter]

He has a tongue in cheek humour that many miss. Don't take his comments the wrong way.

no he's just arrogant!

As I mentioned on another thread, my mate had to spend half a day with him for work reasons a couple of months ago and said he was a decent, humble guy with no attitude.

[The Law]

He has a tongue in cheek humour that many miss. Don't take his comments the wrong way.

no he's just arrogant!

As I mentioned on another thread, my mate had to spend half a day with him for work reasons a couple of months ago and said he was a decent, humble guy with no attitude.

James is indeed very humble and polite when the camera isn't pointing at him. He has plenty of time for his fans and for the press. The bravado and arrogance is only put on when he's promoting a fight.

[hurlock]

no he's just arrogant!

As I mentioned on another thread, my mate had to spend half a day with him for work reasons a couple of months ago and said he was a decent, humble guy with no attitude.

James is indeed very humble and polite when the camera isn't pointing at him. He has plenty of time for his fans and for the press. The bravado and arrogance is only put on when he's promoting a fight.

my point of the matter is, degale has shunned looking good against bum's & letting his stack pile up.he has put his neck & security on the line & has said he'll gladly take the best prospect in the country for his first defence & as a fan i really appreciate that a fighter want's to show & make no question of who's the best.
many decent fighters have taken the easy option & have not granted there fellow proffesional's the opportunity & you get fighters turn up & breathe new life into the sport like degale,gavin,bellew,s.smith,fury & they get criticised for being ambitious while people accuse the piers of hiding & not taking fight's :!: i dont understand it.

smith spoke out also & got dragged in by the media aswell it allway's get's personal when the time draws closer & degale reacted, him staring after the bell was to let smith no he was there, in degales mind he had prepared for smith to take him new places & was ready & done to smith what was the tactics intended for him. smith could be guilty of not giving degale the credit beforehand & got a rude awakening imo.

[Rocky Balboa]

Allegedly has said DeGale is the best fighter he has ever singed? Keep them Christmas Jokes coming, Frank!

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Allegedly has said DeGale is the best fighter he has ever singed? Keep them Christmas Jokes coming, Frank!

How many olympic gold medalists have started out with Fwank in the past 30 years?

[steevyp]

hes more angry at himself than he is of degale. his head is scrambled all over the place right now so its coming out like hes bitter about degale, which just isnt the case.

he will be back ands fighting for the british SMW title again before we know it.

[dr_devious]

I think De Gale is the best prospect in this country since Calzaghe, it wouldnt surprise me if he emulated Calzaghe's success, hes that good