Sep 19 Stephen Smith (22-1) vs. Devis Boschiero (37-3)

[spideruski]

Not much on this weekend. Am looking forward to this fight. Smith has only lost to Lee Selby. Devis Boschiero seems to be the man in Italy, but all 3 of his losses come from when he fights overseas. Still seems a dangerous veteran (34 yrs old) Will this fight be worth watching? Anyone know about this card?

[Stuarty]

Don't think I've seen Boschiero tbh but on paper it looks a test for Smith. Much like his brother Liam his opposition has been rank rotten of late so hopefully that doesn't affect him. Boschieros three loses look to have been close fights on the cards away from home so it could be a long tough slog this one.

[ste1983]

Not much on this weekend. Am looking forward to this fight. Smith has only lost to Lee Selby and Devis Boschiero seems to be the man in Italy, but all 3 of his losses come from when he fights overseas. Still seems a dangerous veteran (34 yrs old) Will this fight be worth watching? Anyone know about this card?

Card looks pretty thin (for televised card), decent match ups though to be fair (I'd actually rather have a card like this than the ones Sky were feeding us earlier in this year).

Boschiero is a decent test but one which I think smith should and will come through.

The Cardle / Buckland fight looks good on paper but this isn't the Buckland we saw at Super Feather I think he's pretty much slotted into opponent mode now. Straight forward win for Cardle imo maybe even stopping him late.

Bradley Saunders has got Rena;ld Garrido in an 8 rounder, Garrido has been over here a few times (lost everytime). Don't expect him to course Saunders any problem but he never been stopped so I'd expect to hear that mentioned a lot with plenty of comparisons to Catterall (especially if Saunders does what Jack couldn't and stops him).

[spideruski]

Yes, I've just watched one of Boschieros losses in france (both losses to the same guy), it is VERY close. Both came to brawl. They both look a bit sloppy to be honest, but nevertheless, leaving it all out there in the ring. Watching Smiths fight with Lee Selby now, and I can see Smith is a cut or class above Boschiero. But that 34 yr old veteran brawler instinct (and he was way calm and smiling in the face off) scares me.

[spideruski]

Also the fact, at the presser he was just staring at the ground not understanding a single word hearns or anyone was saying. Then when it comes time for face off, that awry smile , "time for fight?"

[handsofstone]

Havent seen Boschiero myself but know he's a former European champ who got robbed in a world title fight against Ao a few years ago,he's never been stopped so this is a 50/50 fight for me,Smith blows hot and cold,sometimes he looks excellent other times he finds it difficult to gain control of a fight,he struggled against Barrington Brown in his last fight and got KD but it wasnt scored although it was legit

He needs to win this fight or i doubt we'll see him get past domestic level,i think this is a tough fight on paper for him and 1 he can defintly lose maybe even by KO so he needs to bring his A game,home advantage hopefully can raise his game but im gonna go with Boschiero winning by KO late on

[ILikeBeer]

Can anybody confirm the time of this?

The TV guide that came with my newspaper says it's 7.30pm to 11pm. The Sky Sports website have it as 8pm until midnight.

[ste1983]

Can anybody confirm the time of this?

The TV guide that came with my newspaper says it's 7.30pm to 11pm. The Sky Sports website have it as 8pm until midnight.

8pm till 11.30pm

[ILikeBeer]

Can anybody confirm the time of this?

The TV guide that came with my newspaper says it's 7.30pm to 11pm. The Sky Sports website have it as 8pm until midnight.

8pm till 11.30pm

That's the third different time I've heard it ended then.

[Boxing Prospect]

I give Hearn a lot of stick for some of the crap he serves up on Sky but THIS...this is a good one and it's the sort of even-ish match up we should be getting regularly! Interestingly odds checker has the visitor priced at 50/13, that's AMAZING value!

[keirw]

Boschiero is a definite step up for Smith (going off his record, at least) and if he fights like he did against Brown (although Brown looked much better than his record suggested) he will have a tough night indeed. But I'm sure Gallagher will drill a gameplan into him and he should get the W.

Cardle vs Buckland should be good, I'm sure Cardle will win a clear decision but Buckland will make him work for every second of every round.

Saunders opponent is uninspiring, which is a shame as this card is probably only one decent fight away from being a good show.

I've only seen Doran on firefighter, where he looked pretty decent. His opponent is a natural Light Middle who is coming off two losses, though one of them was Nav Mansouri.

[ste1983]

Can anybody confirm the time of this?

The TV guide that came with my newspaper says it's 7.30pm to 11pm. The Sky Sports website have it as 8pm until midnight.

8pm till 11.30pm

That's the third different time I've heard it ended then.

Thats accordingly to Sky Sports website planner today

[Andrew]

On paper this looks a proper fight, I've not seen Boschiero fight so will try and watch him this week

The problem I have is how this is a final eliminator ?

Stephen Smith has been fighting poor opposition for the past two years so how can he be still be ranked highly ?

During the same period 1 year Boschiero had been fighting at European level and 1 year with three tune ups. So why isn't Jacob the current European Champion who beat Boschiero twice in the final eliminator instead ? After all he is the highest ranked Super Feather with the IBF.

Things like this why the alphabets really make a mockery of the sport. If Jacob is fighting for a world title elsewhere then fair enough.

However on paper Boschiero looks a big step up for Smith compared to what he has been facing recently. Saw the press conference head to head he looks a tough guy and not intimidated at all. He has travelled to opponents backyards and based on scorecards looks to have given solid performances and maybe got robbed. Would not be surprised to see him do the job.

[bripez]

At the beginning of his career I thought that Smith was a good prospect who might make it to World level, however his fights with John Simpson showed that he was probably one of those in-betweeners who is probably above the domestic opposition but not at World level (and the defeat to Selby confirmed this).

Not sure what he has done in the last 5 years to get this title shot though ?

[palooka]

At the beginning of his career I thought that Smith was a good prospect who might make it to World level, however his fights with John Simpson showed that he was probably one of those in-betweeners who is probably above the domestic opposition but not at World level (and the defeat to Selby confirmed this).

Not sure what he has done in the last 5 years to get this title shot though ?

He's Paul Smiths brother.

[bripez]

At the beginning of his career I thought that Smith was a good prospect who might make it to World level, however his fights with John Simpson showed that he was probably one of those in-betweeners who is probably above the domestic opposition but not at World level (and the defeat to Selby confirmed this).

Not sure what he has done in the last 5 years to get this title shot though ?

He's Paul Smiths brother.

It's all starting to make sense now.

[palooka]

At the beginning of his career I thought that Smith was a good prospect who might make it to World level, however his fights with John Simpson showed that he was probably one of those in-betweeners who is probably above the domestic opposition but not at World level (and the defeat to Selby confirmed this).

Not sure what he has done in the last 5 years to get this title shot though ?

He's Paul Smiths brother.

It's all starting to make sense now.

[Counter-puncher]

[ILikeBeer]

At the beginning of his career I thought that Smith was a good prospect who might make it to World level, however his fights with John Simpson showed that he was probably one of those in-betweeners who is probably above the domestic opposition but not at World level (and the defeat to Selby confirmed this).

Not sure what he has done in the last 5 years to get this title shot though ?

He's Paul Smiths brother.

Did it make sense when it was happening to Paul Smith? Let alone anybody else....

[Andrew]

Just watched Boschieros 2nd fight with Jacob. He had no issue going 12 rounds and looks very durable. He does like to go to the body and is generally quite aggressive. Be interesting to see how sets about his business big fight for him too and he will know based on past experience he knows he has to get a KO to win.

[handsofstone]

Marcus Morrison looks a strong bugger,natural strength,i look forward to seeing him again

[digzee]

Yeh every punch looked very powerful especially the jab.

[handsofstone]

Yeh every punch looked very powerful especially the jab.

Yeah the jab looked like a real weapon,looks quite quick for a broad unit too Morrison

[Jedz910]

The guy Marcus Morrison just fought is a welterweight.

[handsofstone]

The guy Marcus Morrison just fought is a welterweight.

I thought they said Mora was a Light Welter??