Paul Smith last spar today - Compare to David Haye

[Josh1111]

So, Paul Smith tweeted saying today is his last spar before he flies to Germany for his fight on Saturday.
Bearing in mind he fights in 5 days, is he sparring too close to the fight?

Back to Haye, he took a lot of stick for sparring 7 days before his fight with Fury and getting a cut. Alot of people asking why is he sparring so close to the fight?

What is actually normal for sparring?

[Gazmac81]

i think Haye was sparing without headgaurd though,
that fight was a big one to the fans so alot of people dissapointed it got cancelled.

i thiink sparring up till the week of a fight is fine but should be well protected.

[bripez]

I don't know what the norm is, but I have read that Chris Eubank used to spar hard up to and including the day before a big fight (although in hindsight that could be a load of bollox as Eubank just says any old shite for effect !).

[Josh1111]

As far as i can remember, Haye wore head gear but got cut then got a load of shit for it.

Ah well, as long as its the norm, was just putting it out there as couldn't understand it

[lefty]

This was a couple of months ago now but that scar tissue above his left eye doesnt look great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VOpY3fDMXU

[righthook]

IMO I think it's too close to the fight to be sparring. Anything could happen things like little niggles that stop u training for a few days or even like a scratched eye ball that can have u out for a few days.

Each to their own but for me I'd stop sparring at least a week before and just concentrate on pad work and strategy.