Liam Smith's opponent announced

[magnus]

http://boxrec.com/boxer/320722

Predrag Radosevic

Best known for getting stopped by Sturm at Middleweight a few years ago. Another holder of the prestigious WBO European Title.

I'm assuming there's been an admin error somewhere and Smith is actually just an intercontinental/international belt holder.

Anyway, Cotto next, obviously.

[handsofstone]

Awful opponent so it is I've never heard of him

[Horse]

Ranked 70th in the world by BoxRec.

Are there any reigning WBC, WBA, IBF or WBO champions less credible than Liam Smith?

[olij999]

The fight with Sturm is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMbwWEAl_MU , if you haven't seen Radosevic before.

[PredatorHayds]

Ranked 70th in the world by BoxRec.

Are there any reigning WBC, WBA, IBF or WBO champions less credible than Liam Smith?

No. Opponents so far into his reign been below British level let alone world level.

[Fortynineandout]

All rather disappointing yet very predictable of late really - Probably a bit of a step up from his first defence against Kelly who is basically still a novice. ( he's not fought for an area title never mind an English or British title ) .
Having said that Kelly was better than the opponent when he won the title ! John Thompson , How poor was he ? ( and where do they find them and get it sanctioned for a world title ? ).

IMO - Boxers masquerading as world champions Makes a mockery of the sport .

No doubt , They're planning a big fight next !

[Stuarty]

He had a big win last year over Italian pensioner Guiseppi Lauri so he deserves his shot

[tigermoth87]

Pathetic defence. Were it not for Russell Jr defending against a ranked #130 opponent this would be the worst defence of the year.

Now Smith is still a relative rookie who jumped to world level too quickly imo. He went from fighting bums to holding a world title in an instant so I can understand him not facing the elite of the division yet. But he should be defending against solid, top 30 fighters. Someone like Saldivia, Cano or Bundrage would be acceptable title defences. Credible opponents without being too much of a risk at this stage like Matirosyran and Andrade would be.

Fighting this schmuck is a disgrace. He should be stripped of the belt.

In fact questions need to be asked how each boxing governing body somehow manages to rank these bums high enough to allow them to be cherry picked. In what way can Radosevic and Kilrain Kelly warrant a top 15 world ranking?

[Horse]

Someone like Saldivia, Cano or Bundrage would be acceptable title defences. Credible opponents without being too much of a risk at this stage like Matirosyran and Andrade would be.

I think you might be underrating Bundrage a bit.

I'd say that he'd be a risk.

[tigermoth87]

Someone like Saldivia, Cano or Bundrage would be acceptable title defences. Credible opponents without being too much of a risk at this stage like Matirosyran and Andrade would be.

I think you might be underrating Bundrage a bit.

I'd say that he'd be a risk.

He's a good fighter but I think he's past his best. He'd be more of a risk than Saldivia and Cano though.

[Stuarty]

He should fight Soro. Was he not supposed to fight him initially for the vacant title?

[deadpan]

Expect 'only one defeat' to be repeated by the Sky cheerleaders with a greater mantra-like regularity than Naz prefacing every thought with 'at the end of the day'.

To quote Mr Fury, it is what it is.

A shitehouse defence.

[forcefraser]

So begins yet another Warre n lead joke of a world title reign. Fight no one who even resembles a threat. His last opponent was worse to be fair but is still ranked 70th on boxrec. Embarrasing. First decent fighter he goes in against he`s getting done.

Throw the lad in with Andrade and be done with it.

[mickey1975]

Expect 'only one defeat' to be repeated by the Sky cheerleaders with a greater mantra-like regularity than Naz prefacing every thought with 'at the end of the day'.

To quote Mr Fury, it is what it is.

A shitehouse defence.

It'll be on b allegedly.

[crusader]

Ranked 70th in the world by BoxRec.

Are there any reigning WBC, WBA, IBF or WBO champions less credible than Liam Smith?

I can't think of one. Thompson, Kelly, and Radosevic has to be among the worst opening trios of championship opponents a big 4 titlist has ever had.

These guys aren't steps up from the British level opposition Smith faced prior to grabbing the belt, and someone like Kelly may even have an area level ceiling.

[Horse]

I can't think of one. Thompson, Kelly, and Radosevic has to be among the worst opening trios of championship opponents a big 4 titlist has ever had.

These guys may well be steps back from the British level opposition Smith faced prior to grabbing the belt.

I didn't even know Smith vs Thompson was a world title fight until it was announced at the end. I thought it was for an inter-continental title.

There doesn't even seem to be any real pretence that he's any sort of a proper world champion. He is treated like an unexceptional British champion by his own promoter.

[deadpan]

Expect 'only one defeat' to be repeated by the Sky cheerleaders with a greater mantra-like regularity than Naz prefacing every thought with 'at the end of the day'.

To quote Mr Fury, it is what it is.

A shitehouse defence.

It'll be on b allegedly.

Good point! It smacked of Eddie, which was remiss of me as Franny Wazza is just as capable of a stinky defence that puts the BO in WBO.

[Andrew]

Someone like Saldivia, Cano or Bundrage would be acceptable title defences. Credible opponents without being too much of a risk at this stage like Matirosyran and Andrade would be.

I think you might be underrating Bundrage a bit.

I'd say that he'd be a risk.

Saldivia did you not forget he got sparked in a round by a jab off Kell Brook. The fact he is 23 on this site either says the rankings here are mental or the weight is pretty poor.

[Horse]

Saldivia did you not forget he got sparked in a round by a jab off Kell Brook. The fact he is 23 on this site either says the rankings here are mental or the weight is pretty poor.

The weight division is very poor, especially domestically.

[BigDoofus]

All rather disappointing yet very predictable of late really - Probably a bit of a step up from his first defence against Kelly who is basically still a novice. ( he's not fought for an area title never mind an English or British title ) .
Having said that Kelly was better than the opponent when he won the title ! John Thompson , How poor was he ? ( and where do they find them and get it sanctioned for a world title ? ).

IMO - Boxers masquerading as world champions Makes a mockery of the sport .

No doubt , They're planning a big fight next !

John Thompson is Smith's highest rated opponent (world no.62). Joke of a belt.

[Andrew]

Watched the Sturm fight and the guy was petrified and out of his depth. Interesting what bookies odds are going to I'll take a random guess at 1/20

FW did himself no favours talking about Brook offers Canelo, Cotto Trout they are not realistic Trout Michel Soro who he was supposed to fight for the vacant belt why not him ? Another realistic opponent looking on the top list Ishe Smith sure he is limited but has fought the top opposition never been dropped and will come and give it a go.

Ultimately it's a bollocks belt just like Joshua's Joe Gallagher turned down the chance to fight Andrade for it but then waited until it was vacant ... This is on an IFL video so I'm not making it up.

[Andrew]

Saldivia did you not forget he got sparked in a round by a jab off Kell Brook. The fact he is 23 on this site either says the rankings here are mental or the weight is pretty poor.

The weight division is very poor, especially domestically.

I think Liam Williams has some potential though. Needs consistency.

[littlepug]

this is the problem with lads picking up ( through clever managing/promoting) world titles before they are ready, we are then forced to watch sub standard defences while the lad learns on the job, unfortunately it seems to be a trend in the modern game now so will just have to put up with it

[Horse]

I think Liam Williams has some potential though. Needs consistency.

Yep.

If he can string a few together at domestic level then a fight against Smith seems like it should be pretty likely.

[Horse]

this is the problem with lads picking up ( through clever managing/promoting) world titles before they are ready, we are then forced to watch sub standard defences while the lad learns on the job, unfortunately it seems to be a trend in the modern game now so will just have to put up with it

He's learning sod all fighting these chumps though.

He should at least be trying to fight opposition that is better than domestic level to try to learn something.

If he's given a tough mandatory then he is buggered.