Liam Smith (c) vs. Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez - September 17th 2016

[Andrew]

Surprised that 1 in 5 people on this forum think Liam Smith beats Canelo. Truth be told it's a complete mis-match.

J
Not necessarily only because Liam Smith has fought absolutely no one we don't know how good he is.

Conelo is going to land the same shots he did againts Angulo as Liam will not be difficult to land on. If he can take a lot of punishment he may have a chance if not it will end very badly.

Be interesting to see if he does the Joe Gallagher big fight special and do nothing for the first few rounds.

[Wales]

Surprised that 1 in 5 people on this forum think Liam Smith beats Canelo. Truth be told it's a complete mis-match.

J
Not necessarily only because Liam Smith has fought absolutely no one we don't know how good he is.

Conelo is going to land the same shots he did againts Angulo as Liam will not be difficult to land on. If he can take a lot of punishment he may have a chance if not it will end very badly.

Be interesting to see if he does the Joe Gallagher big fight special and do nothing for the first few rounds.

That's the point, he's jumping from fighting British level guys like Kelly, thompson, wellborne and ocheing straight into elite level. Hasn't boxed a rugged gatekeeper, a fringe world class opponent or a genuine world class opponent before jumping in with an elite fighter.

If he can take a lot it's a massacre, a heavy beat down . If he can't it isn't.

Be suicide against Canelo for Gallagher to try that one.

hope Smith proves me wrong, but I see a Locket Pavlilk or Jennings Cotto more than a Honeyghan Curry

[Taansend]

Surprised that 1 in 5 people on this forum think Liam Smith beats Canelo. Truth be told it's a complete mis-match.

Only 1 in 100 has picked a draw & that bloke is going to look pretty bloody clever on September 17th

[Taansend]

Surprised that 1 in 5 people on this forum think Liam Smith beats Canelo. Truth be told it's a complete mis-match.

J
Not necessarily only because Liam Smith has fought absolutely no one we don't know how good he is.

Conelo is going to land the same shots he did againts Angulo as Liam will not be difficult to land on. If he can take a lot of punishment he may have a chance if not it will end very badly.

Be interesting to see if he does the Joe Gallagher big fight special and do nothing for the first few rounds.

That's the point, he's jumping from fighting British level guys like Kelly, thompson, wellborne and ocheing straight into elite level. Hasn't boxed a rugged gatekeeper, a fringe world class opponent or a genuine world class opponent before jumping in with an elite fighter.

If he can take a lot it's a massacre, a heavy beat down . If he can't it isn't.

Be suicide against Canelo for Gallagher to try that one.

hope Smith proves me wrong, but I see a Locket Pavlilk or Jennings Cotto more than a Honeyghan Curry

Great analogy Wales

But it's a fans prerogative to dream, isn't it. You need to stop talking sense & start believing the dream, Brother

[Taansend]

J
Not necessarily only because Liam Smith has fought absolutely no one we don't know how good he is.

Conelo is going to land the same shots he did againts Angulo as Liam will not be difficult to land on. If he can take a lot of punishment he may have a chance if not it will end very badly.

Be interesting to see if he does the Joe Gallagher big fight special and do nothing for the first few rounds.

That's the point, he's jumping from fighting British level guys like Kelly, thompson, wellborne and ocheing straight into elite level. Hasn't boxed a rugged gatekeeper, a fringe world class opponent or a genuine world class opponent before jumping in with an elite fighter.

If he can take a lot it's a massacre, a heavy beat down . If he can't it isn't.

Be suicide against Canelo for Gallagher to try that one.

hope Smith proves me wrong, but I see a Locket Pavlilk or Jennings Cotto more than a Honeyghan Curry

Great analogy Wales

But it's a fans prerogative to dream, isn't it. You need to stop talking sense & start believing the dream, Brother

Actually it's not an analogy is it. It's a comparison. Sorry

[Wales]

It's like going from drinking pints of carlsberg down the local to pints of vodka with grizzled old Russian alcoholics.

Better ?

[CaptainSpacerod]

Does anyone know how long Liam has been over in America ?

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UqbM5UoeV0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BSuoPRg9Ik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi9rdDyT1Vk

[coneye]

If we get to the 7th rnd , we'll try and Knock him out ,,,,,,Sounds like a plan

[Tarkus]

If we get to the 7th rnd , we'll try and Knock him out ,,,,,,Sounds like a plan

Although he meant to say: If we get to the 7th rnd we'll try to get to the end. And its a big if.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Got a feeling Liam will see the final bell. Will be very wide on the scorecards though

[Autobarn]

I know all about Alvarez's vulnerabilities.

Don't know much about Smith.

So, Smith has to walk the tightrope, not taking those big, snappy punches during the first six rounds. BUT, to make Alvarez work very hard in those rounds. And to work the body during this period... Because although Alvarez tires, he cannot be allowed to conserve energy early.

Optimistic that Smith can follow a good game plan early, and try to grind him down late. Really hoping for a good fight.

[stujones]

I just don't think stylistically Smith can beat Canelo. Canelo isn't the quickest and can get outboxed, but Smith seems to be a bit too straight lines and too similar to Canelo.

Don't get me wrong from what I have seen of Smith and trying to gauge his level based on fringe Domestic level operators (if we are being honest) he is better than Matthew Hatton - but style wise are quite similar. Matthew tried every bit of his ringcraft and experience against Canelo but fell short time and time again.

Just like have seen Smith defend his title against fighters like Angulo or even Carson Jones first. Fighters who are a like Canelo stylistically, but not as good.

[DannyMCR]

Does anyone know how long Liam has been over in America ?

Since Sunday

[CaptainSpacerod]

Does anyone know how long Liam has been over in America ?

Since Sunday

Thanks.

Not giving himself much time to acclimatize

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X81d3AQRC1Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AL1zJURLy8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsPjDabnfTI

[gilgamesh]

WAR BEEFY!

[PredatorHayds]

Think Gallagher went over Sunday but Liam had been over there a couple of weeks already.

Smith has got to start quicker than usual otherwise Canelo could overwhelm him.

Hopefully Gallagher ditches the slow start gameplan for this one.

I really rate Smith, more than most on here but I can't see past a mid-late Canelo stoppage. Smith looks absolutly made for him.

[TheLeprechaun]

If we get to the 7th rnd , we'll try and Knock him out ,,,,,,Sounds like a plan

lol, I did laugh at that too.

I really think people are underestimating Canelo's skills. I rewatched the Lara, Trout and Cotto fights. He's developed really good movement and defensive skills. He's quite hard to hit to be honest and hard to pin down. He punches like a mule and has become a better counter puncher. Smith doesn't have anywhere near his skills. It's a cakewalk for Canelo for me. Not saying he'll KO Smith, but I reckon he wins handily. If he starts opening up on Smith he will get him out of there though.

[lefty]

Think Gallagher went over Sunday but Liam had been over there a couple of weeks already.

Smith has got to start quicker than usual otherwise Canelo could overwhelm him.

Hopefully Gallagher ditches the slow start gameplan for this one.

I really rate Smith, more than most on here but I can't see past a mid-late Canelo stoppage. Smith looks absolutly made for him.

In his interview with IFL tv Liam said he got there on Sunday aswell. Seems far too late to be arriving. I'm guessing it's because Joe was catering to Crolla who's fighting Linares next weekend.

[Counter-puncher]

Think Gallagher went over Sunday but Liam had been over there a couple of weeks already.

Smith has got to start quicker than usual otherwise Canelo could overwhelm him.

Hopefully Gallagher ditches the slow start gameplan for this one.

I really rate Smith, more than most on here but I can't see past a mid-late Canelo stoppage. Smith looks absolutly made for him.

In his interview with IFL tv Liam said he got there on Sunday aswell. Seems far too late to be arriving. I'm guessing it's because Joe was catering to Crolla who's fighting Linares next weekend.

actually it was because there was a special offer on pate at Tescos

[lefty]

Think Gallagher went over Sunday but Liam had been over there a couple of weeks already.

Smith has got to start quicker than usual otherwise Canelo could overwhelm him.

Hopefully Gallagher ditches the slow start gameplan for this one.

I really rate Smith, more than most on here but I can't see past a mid-late Canelo stoppage. Smith looks absolutly made for him.

In his interview with IFL tv Liam said he got there on Sunday aswell. Seems far too late to be arriving. I'm guessing it's because Joe was catering to Crolla who's fighting Linares next weekend.

actually it was because there was a special offer on pate at Tescos

[arlovski]

Think this will be a decent all action scrap.
Smith seemingly can't or won't fight on the back foot, at least in any of the previous fights i've seen him in, so i assume he'll come head on as usual and meet Canelo centre ring.

Problem is, we all know the Ginger One is a fuckin tank come fight night.
I think it's all down to whether Smith punches hard enough to make Canelo respect him, and we haven't a clue cause he's never fought any one at proper world level.
Seen many times how a good domestic/Euro level banger's power doesn't translate to the highest level, and Canelo is a legit world class fighter+someone will need a real dig or very silky skills at range to give him serious trouble - does Beefy have either?

Don't all the Smith's rate him as the best brother though?
I reckon he'll give a good account of himself regardless, i think he's great offensively and punches really well in combination, but the earmuffs defence+no head movement will do him no favours on Saturday imo

[lefty]

Watching some more footage of both guys- I feel Canelo might take Liam out with a left hook to the liver. One thing that stands out when watching Smith fight (which I think another poster alluded to somewhere) is that Liam likes to fight with that high guard but yet his arms don't look long enough to protect his body and his elbows don't look tucked either.

He looks wide open to body shots and Canelo does throw wicked body shots alongside some lovely uppercuts.

[THEBUTCH]

I hope Liam does it and agree he's the best of the Smith brothers in terms of talent and entertainment.

I also think it will be the world class body punching that will be the deciding factor here. Alverez is a superb fighter oozing power and strength, I just hope Liam can make a real go of it and comes back a hero.