Doran v Smith - Interesting fight Saturday

[GlobalBox]

I know with the two British title fights this is probably 4th best fight on the card on paper but two undefeated pro's is normally a recipe for a decent scrap.

Had a look at both and both men have there skills clearly but I find it interesting that both seem to have had gaps in there careers, Doran had 3 years out from 2011-2014 and had one fight in 2014 before winning prizefighter earlier this year.

Smith although only 7 fights in had 17 months off from Feb 2014 until July this year, all seems a bit strange for two guys pushing on in there careers, I am assuming there were reasons, but from what I have seen this looks to be a decent match up and could be a really good tear up despite ko records suggesting otherwise.

Some of you guys will have seen them in the flesh and know more about gaps in career etc and perhaps have a view on the fight?

I would be interested to hear any insights.

[CharlesListon]

It is an interesting fight. Both have been floored by Max Maxwell.
I've seen Doran a few times live and he is susceptible to a knock down. When Maxwell knocked him down he hurt him and I thought he was done. Many people thought that he was fortunate to get the stoppage a few moments later. To be fair to him he's always got up and gone back at them.
After that fight he took a break. I think he has/had a well paid job. I heard he had done some white collar during this break but don't know if that is true.
He came back a lot heavier than before his break.
I've never seen Smith, but it's always good to see a couple of unbeaten lads get it on. We should expect some knock downs.

[ardybo]

Smith looks physically bigger than Doran and could spring a surprise

[CharlesListon]

Doran is small for the weight.

[PredatorHayds]

Doran is a class act.

Great timing. I can see him winning this then get the Blackwell fight next year on a Matchroom undercard.

[littlekinny]

Doran 1/3
Smith 5/2

Never seen Smith but seen Doran in PF and against Maxwell. Agree with above poster about the stoppage from what I remember. Any value in Smith here?

[TheCobra]

I'd totally forgotten about Doran after that Maxwell fight. That was a pretty wild 1st round, one of the best I've seen really, but also totally unfair to Max. Shame Doran just disappeared from then on, he was fun to watch, looking forward to this fight.

[bigjack]

It is an interesting fight. Both have been floored by Max Maxwell.
I've seen Doran a few times live and he is susceptible to a knock down. When Maxwell knocked him down he hurt him and I thought he was done. Many people thought that he was fortunate to get the stoppage a few moments later. To be fair to him he's always got up and gone back at them.
After that fight he took a break. I think he has/had a well paid job. I heard he had done some white collar during this break but don't know if that is true.
He came back a lot heavier than before his break.
I've never seen Smith, but it's always good to see a couple of unbeaten lads get it on. We should expect some knock downs.

Doran is a local lad and i believe he is a licenced aircraft engineer,so if that is the case then he will be very well paid.

[Wales]

Believe he works at hawker beach craft in broughton, a tier one supplier to airbus, also based in brought on. Don't think he's terribly well paid there, and a Licensed aircraft engineer may be a bit OTT / swish job title, but he did quit boxing first time round to complete his apprenticeship and concentrate on work away from boxing.

He did indeed compete white collar during his break, but he was always clearly too good.

Toms biggest problem was being a small town North Wales lad. Prior to landing his shot on prize fighter he was scheduled to fight on a North West show, however he failed to sell enough tickets and his fight was cancelled. If I recall it was a show in early December so just before Christmas. This remains a stumbling block and I think Tom could easily become, if I'm not mistaken, the first prizefighter champion to have not held, or had a future shot at, the British title.

[Chris W 1982]

Larry Ekundayo

[maley1984]

Doran is a disgrace weighing in 7lbs over. Board sudnt honour eliminator status if he wins. Smith looked in great condition

[GlobalBox]

Doran is a disgrace weighing in 7lbs over. Board sudnt honour eliminator status if he wins. Smith looked in great condition

Totally agree, Smith did not seem at all surprised, so guessing he knew and was hopefully suitably recompensed. Smith was in superb shape whilst as that weight says Doran looked somewhat less than in stellar condition.

Clearly trying to get a big advantage over Smith because if it was made known weeks before hand he had no intention of making the weight then Smith could have eased down on the weight cutting.

Really hope Smith can overcome this and come through here

[CharlesListon]

I haven't seen the weights or weigh in. What did Doran weigh in at?

[GlobalBox]

I haven't seen the weights or weigh in. What did Doran weigh in at?

If memory serves he was 11-12 and bits, although happy to be corrected on that.

[bigjack]

I haven't seen the weights or weigh in. What did Doran weigh in at?

If memory serves he was 11-12 and bits, although happy to be corrected on that.

11.13 and 6 ounces

[CharlesListon]

Thats poor. I've just seen that Smith was about 3lbs under 160 as well which gives Doran a 10lb weight advantage.

Doran hasn't made 160 since his break. Even the PF contests (he was just over at 161 and a bit).

The thing I don't get is he is a small lad. You'd think he would want to stay down at super-welter or middle at most.

To be a whole 7lb heavy is really bad. It's not like that could have been a surprise. I have no reason to make weight but check myself 3 or 4 times a week. In the run up to an eliminator you'd have thought he'd have been bang on.

Still, he wont get it even if he wins now.

[GlobalBox]

Thats poor. I've just seen that Smith was about 3lbs under 160 as well which gives Doran a 10lb weight advantage.

Doran hasn't made 160 since his break. Even the PF contests (he was just over at 161 and a bit).

The thing I don't get is he is a small lad. You'd think he would want to stay down at super-welter or middle at most.

To be a whole 7lb heavy is really bad. It's not like that could have been a surprise. I have no reason to make weight but check myself 3 or 4 times a week. In the run up to an eliminator you'd have thought he'd have been bang on.

Still, he wont get it even if he wins now.

Smith looked in great shape and not at all phased by it, you would hope he was suitably recompensed for it and with Smith being a naturally big lad he will be around the 164-166 area tonight so Doran's advantage will be less of an issue, hopefully.

[maley1984]

Doran and a member of smiths family were having words on twitter. Doran very disrespectful and not arsed about failing to make the weight. Looking at the tweets doran cant weigh over 12st 3lbs at 4 pm today.

[GlobalBox]

Doran and a member of smiths family were having words on twitter. Doran very disrespectful and not arsed about failing to make the weight. Looking at the tweets doran cant weigh over 12st 3lbs at 4 pm today.

It's all very strange he says he had a great camp and cant get within 7lbs of the scheduled weight, Think Smith was with Coldwell at one point and believe Doran is with Coldwell now so perhaps it's a strategy for whatever reason.

Don't like this stuff though and I would like Smith to win this and tbh before the weight advantage I thought he had every chance of beating Doran, although he has this to overcome he is in with more than a shout here.

[expe]

SPOILER






















Doran stops Smith in the third.

[bigjack]

SPOILER





Cheers was just looking to see what the result was
















Doran stops Smith in the third.

[Wales]

Surprised regarding his weight. Will ask the question tomorrow and post his honest response here. Very unlike Tom to be unprofessional like this, usually very honest pro. He's been shafted a few times in pro game, no excuse to be that far overweight mind.

[TheCobra]

Unprofessional, disrespectful to the other fighter expecting him to just take it and carry on regardless. Lovely body shot but I really didn't like Doran's nonchalant attitude to it all in the post-fight interview, I have to conclude the guy is a dick.

[thepocketrocket]

Unprofessional, disrespectful to the other fighter expecting him to just take it and carry on regardless. Lovely body shot but I really didn't like Doran's nonchalant attitude to it all in the post-fight interview, I have to conclude the guy is a dick.

What did he say post fight??

[TheCobra]

Unprofessional, disrespectful to the other fighter expecting him to just take it and carry on regardless. Lovely body shot but I really didn't like Doran's nonchalant attitude to it all in the post-fight interview, I have to conclude the guy is a dick.

What did he say post fight??

Just seemed really not-arsed about the weight-making thing. Said he'd got an injury and couldn't train properly for 2 weeks, couldn't do the running. then it came out something about he's had a wedding or something 3-4 weeks ago. Just didn't add up at all and his overall nonchalance just came across really unprofessional. I can clearly see now why this guy's career has not got going, he's just not taking it seriously at all.