WBBS Semi-Final: Callum Smith vs. Nieky Holzken - 24 February 2018

[keirw]

Holzken's last fight:

His defence looks poor, high hands that not only leave him open for body shots but he also leaked straight rights through the middle.

Can't see this fight lasting very long.

[Stuarty]

Are ITV still charging for this tripe? I'll be watching the BN card regardless but it's shocking if they're still trying to charge. I know of a lot of folk who had bother with Groves v Eubank PPV at the weekend.

[Coco]

This has worked out perfectly for smith.
He will proceed to the final after having 2 little fights and may not even have to fight Groves!
And for these 3 fights over 6 months he will pick up more than 5 million quid!

[PredatorHayds]

Not surprised Braehmer has pulled out.

His heart hasn’t been in it for a while.

Struggles with the weight, prefers training fighters. He quit against Clev when he was up.

Dangerous precedent. If this is PPV then 95% of televised shows should be as this card is gash.

[Ruthless-RKO]

What I don't understand is Brähmer went back down to SMW after a long time to enter the WBSS.. if he couldn't make weight, why bother moving down?

[DSW]

What I don't understand is Brähmer went back down to SMW after a long time to enter the WBSS.. if he couldn't make weight, why bother moving down?

In the words of Neil Diamond, "Money talks".

[Ruthless-RKO]

What I don't understand is Brähmer went back down to SMW after a long time to enter the WBSS.. if he couldn't make weight, why bother moving down?

In the words of Neil Diamond, "Money talks".

Probably made over a mil vs. Brant.

[DSW]

What I don't understand is Brähmer went back down to SMW after a long time to enter the WBSS.. if he couldn't make weight, why bother moving down?

In the words of Neil Diamond, "Money talks".

Probably made over a mil vs. Brant.

Therein lies the answer to your question.

[afcpaul]

If he's got the flu, can't they just push it back 2 weeks? Not like Groves is fighting fit waiting for the final

That would work for both of them - happy days, but its probably the logistics of venue hiring etc stopping this ?.

[wouter]

I think (any dutchmen here correct me if I'm wrong) it actually means "little wood" in Dutch, so maybe not.

No, it does not mean anything in Dutch

[Gnome]

I think (any dutchmen here correct me if I'm wrong) it actually means "little wood" in Dutch, so maybe not.

No, it does not mean anything in Dutch

Ah OK cheers. I was thinking it might be the Dutch version of Holzchen.

[jamamb]

holzken would beat callum no problem in kickboxing but cant see him having much of a chance in boxing!

[brian13]

The 168 tournament has been a joke. Groves is an elite fighter, the rest are wannabes nobodies and hasbeens.

If it’s earned the fighters a few quid then FairPlay but as a barometer of who’s the best at 168 in the world it’s been fvckin worthless

Nonsense. People were not saying much at the start knowing that Eubank, Groves, Smith and Cox were in the tournament as the chances of good domestic fights were realistically. James DeGale was also injured and couldn't make the quarter finals.

The 200 division is dominated by mainly Europeans, so it wasn't that hard to get the best fighters together.

[jamamb]

ya agree, hasnt been that bad

groves vs eubank was one of the best matched smw fights of the last few years, groves vs smith would be the same

tell me about all this great action happening outside the tourney. oh wow, benavidez beat gavril twice!

assuming its groves vs smith, the winner will have undoubtedly boosted there position and reputation in the division, groves especially can score 2 wins that are better than anyone else at smw has managed in the same year for a while

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kalle took the day off.. too much partying in Manchester it seems.

[Omerta]

Is this still ppv? Surely they can't charge for such a now low profile fight!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this still ppv? Surely they can't charge for such a now low profile fight!

Yup still is.

[Oiky]

Funny turnout to have this on ppv

[mfc_se15]

Is this still ppv? Surely they can't charge for such a now low profile fight!

Yup still is.

The one disappointment with this tournament for me is the slight side issue of ITV. I guess you could say it started before this tournament but they have shown themselves absolutely clueless at how to broadcast this. At the very basic level every fight that isn't PPV should be on ITV4 or similar not on the boxoffice channel which loads of people don't have access to (ie a lot fo freeview customers). Also the fight this weekend still being PPV is ludicrous surely you'd want more people to get to know Smith and see him before you ask them to shell out for a PPV (assuming he wins) v Groves.

[Autobarn]

Why was Braehmer ever invited?

Fighters can get flaky in series’ such as these. Look at Dirrell trying to get out, for instance in the original 168 SS. Causing huge problems.

Braehmer should’ve been Joe Calzaghe’s serious test, way back, the dangerous challenger to the WBO belt everyone was waiting for. But whoended up losing to a Calzaghe 1round KO victim, Veit. JB was even doing well versus Cleverly, surely ahead, before giving up. Why invite a flake? One who, it appeared, would struggle to even co Pete down at 168.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The one disappointment with this tournament for me is the slight side issue of ITV. I guess you could say it started before this tournament but they have shown themselves absolutely clueless at how to broadcast this. At the very basic level every fight that isn't PPV should be on ITV4 or similar not on the boxoffice channel which loads of people don't have access to (ie a lot fo freeview customers). Also the fight this weekend still being PPV is ludicrous surely you'd want more people to get to know Smith and see him before you ask them to shell out for a PPV (assuming he wins) v Groves.

Another mistake was having Eubank vs. Yildrim and Groves vs. Cox on ppv.. That should have been ITV4.. Good way to build the semi-final we all expected.

[Stuarty]

Can't believe ITV are still charging for this.

[Boxerbeetle]

Can't believe ITV are still charging for this.

I usually do a ‘Are You Buying the PPV’ poll/thread out of interest, but I genuinely don’t think there’s any point for this one? It’d surely be 100% no?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Can't believe ITV are still charging for this.

I usually do a ‘Are You Buying the PPV’ poll/thread out of interest, but I genuinely don’t think there’s any point for this one? It’d surely be 100% no?

Unless some have already bought it part of the Groves-Eubank package..

[Stuarty]

Can't believe ITV are still charging for this.

I usually do a ‘Are You Buying the PPV’ poll/thread out of interest, but I genuinely don’t think there’s any point for this one? It’d surely be 100% no?

The whole card is aids