George Groves v Callum Smith.

[candyslim]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

[tigermoth87]

It was a good, even fight. Both guys looked good. Smith is a quality puncher, not just his power but his timing and accuracy too.

[DrDuke]

It was an intriguing bout before the first bell. Smith was dominating in the fight. Well, he wasn't demolishing Groves, but he was clearly winning. One judge was scoring it for Groves, that was nonsense. Groves began to perform better in the last couple of rounds before the 7th, where he got caught, hurt and was forced to quit.

[lazboy]

Good traditional boxing fight. Exciting for a purist. Intelligent effort by both. Need to say - smith looked like a lhw if not bigger. He is huge. Groves normally I’d consider big or average. Him and jack looked relatively even in memory serves me and jack obviously had to move up. Callum is a good strong fighter no doubt but he has considerable physical advantages at that weight.

[DrDuke]

Good traditional boxing fight. Exciting for a purist. Intelligent effort by both. Need to say - smith looked like a lhw if not bigger. He is huge. Groves normally I’d consider big or average. Him and jack looked relatively even in memory serves me and jack obviously had to move up. Callum is a good strong fighter no doubt but he has considerable physical advantages at that weight.

Smith can compete at LHW for sure. He should be there eventually.

[Noxy]

Just watched it on YouTube too. Good, tactical fight. Smith does indeed look large at SMW. I don’t know how easily he makes the weight.

[Oiky]

Groves can call it a day now and have a fantastic career to look back on - I'd like to see smith beat the sh*t out of eubank Jnr now

[Ossyrules]

It was an intriguing bout before the first bell. Smith was dominating in the fight. Well, he wasn't demolishing Groves, but he was clearly winning. One judge was scoring it for Groves, that was nonsense. Groves began to perform better in the last couple of rounds before the 7th, where he got caught, hurt and was forced to quit.

I can understand that scores were even, as while groves was more out his comfort zone with the pressure smith was putting on with height and reach as well, groves was generally busier. Even to score but the bigger picture was the fight as a whole was more in smiths terms and game plan

[Thomastearns]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

The build up was so low key. I was wondering whether to check it out tonight (in the absence of anything better to do) when I caught the result on Google first thing this morning.

Now if it had been in the UK...

[Cent0089]

Too bad it was in Saudi Arabia. This clash would be a megafight in UK. Id like to see Smith vs Ramirez. Hopefully Groves can bounce back from this, maybe another title shot against David Benavidez ?

[boxing_rocks]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

Yep, there was basically no discussion on Current Scene before the fight and nothing immediately after. The British forum did have an RBR though.

Groves' chin and possibly not fully healed shoulder decided the outcome. That was probably Callum's best fight ever.

[Impractical Poster]

Good fight. Callum had the upper hand til the end. It was competitive, but Callum looked better on the way to the stoppage.

On a side note, it was interesting seeing the Saudis in the crowd

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

Yep, there was basically no discussion on Current Scene before the fight and nothing immediately after. The British forum did have an RBR though.

Groves' chin and possibly not fully healed shoulder decided the outcome. That was probably Callum's best fight ever.

I think his shoulder was fine. His chin aint bad. He got hit with heavy hands.

[Impractical Poster]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

Yep, there was basically no discussion on Current Scene before the fight and nothing immediately after. The British forum did have an RBR though.

Groves' chin and possibly not fully healed shoulder decided the outcome. That was probably Callum's best fight ever.

I think his shoulder was fine. His chin aint bad. He got hit with heavy hands.

Precise, accurate heavy hands.

[jamamb]

yep, smith though maybe a bit slow on his feet, has super sharp hands (attack or counter) and every punch in the book

[ngodap]

Smith was to much to good for groves.

[boxing_rocks]

Yep, there was basically no discussion on Current Scene before the fight and nothing immediately after. The British forum did have an RBR though.

Groves' chin and possibly not fully healed shoulder decided the outcome. That was probably Callum's best fight ever.

I think his shoulder was fine. His chin aint bad. He got hit with heavy hands.

Precise, accurate heavy hands.

Yep, and was stopped twice before.

[adislav123]

Smith is huge for 167, didn't see the weigh in but guess he looked drained to bits, guess he was almost 190 in there. He is big! the short kept punches, pretty, pretty fast. When you hit the spot you don't have to load up like a madman chopping trees. All around top level performance.

[Thomastearns]

Smith is huge for 167, didn't see the weigh in but guess he looked drained to bits, guess he was almost 190 in there. He is big! the short kept punches, pretty, pretty fast. When you hit the spot you don't have to load up like a madman chopping trees. All around top level performance.

You're not joking. Smith looks like he belongs in a different weight class altogether. How can they both be at SMW?

The last time I saw 2 fighters looking this mismatched in size was when Jarrett Hurd last fought. No wonder Groves said the punches he felt were heavy handed!

Groves low left hand scientifically exposed by Smith again and again.

[boxing_rocks]

Smith just tall and thin. Groves couldn't turn Callum's hight into his advantage. A smaller fighter needs to try to get inside and use shorter punches but that is not George's strength.

[Thomastearns]

Smith just tall and thin. Groves couldn't turn Callum's hight into his advantage. A smaller fighter needs to try to get inside and use shorter punches but that is not George's strength.

Seemed to be a different Groves to the one that fought Eubank. Smith was defensively in a different class to Chris Jr.

Like you say it's probably a waste of time trying to fight a bigger, taller man on the back foot as is Groves' usual style.

One style does not suit all. You could argue that Eubank was made for Groves, and Groves was made for Smith.

[Neil Gee]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread. I'm deliberately not mentioning the result as I've just watched it on YouTube and I didn't know who was going to win until the end.

It was an intriguing match between two excellent boxers. I'd love to have heard what the Saudis at the arena thought of it. I guess many know all about it from TV etc. but I expect it was a first time for many watching top quality boxing in the flesh so to speak.

thanx for your thoughtfulness in not mentioning the result immediately. I had the time wrong for this fight, thinking it was taking place this evening, so went straight to Youtube and watched it not knowing the winner.

Got to say George looked up against it from the beginning, he never managed to really shake Smith although I still thought he might have that one moment of inspiration and that kept me interested, it never happened, Smith was flawlessly cautious, never coming over the front foot.

Smith could be champion for awhile if he can continue to boil his 6 ft 3 ins frame down to super-middle.

[boxing_rocks]

He said he wants Benavidez next. Maybe it is just a talk, but I would love to see that.

[KiwiRider]

Smith can make that weight. He is 28 so I think he can keep making it. Yes he is huge at SMW, but so is Zurdo and Jessie Hart.
He does have long arms as well.
LHW is a different kettle of fish, not the place for Callum.

[candyslim]

Thanks Neil. I hoped someone would see my opening post and be prompted by it to go and watch the fight without knowing the result. It's the thought that counts so they say