BoxRec

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 09:12 I think Eddie being smart, would 100% want to keep him away from Isaac Cruz for awhile, you don’t want to be going hell for leather like that against the pitbull. If he boxes him and avoids trading, then yes he wins. But with the crowd roaring, he seems the type that likes to bring the action

One of the best away wins we’ve seen in a long time. Hardly anyone predicted Smith would be knocking this guy out

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 09:12 I think Eddie being smart, would 100% want to keep him away from Isaac Cruz for awhile, you don’t want to be going hell for leather like that against the pitbull. If he boxes him and avoids trading, then yes he wins. But with the crowd roaring, he seems the type that likes to bring the action

One of the best away wins we’ve seen in a long time. Hardly anyone predicted Smith would be knocking this guy out

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:13 No disrespect to Donald Curry but was his resume p4p no1 worthy at any stage of his career??


I know he was generally regarded no1 at that point but 2 close wins against Starling and knocking out McCrory make you top dawg? McCrory's best win is a 10 round decision over DeWitt, I don't mean to sh1t on Marlon Starling or Milton McCrory or especially Honeyghan but surely I'm talking a bit of sense here

Still regardless Smith going over 2 america to knock out a dangerous 2 time world champ is some going, always rated him, his ring IQ is elite, can do it all really but in a textbook fashion

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:13 No disrespect to Donald Curry but was his resume p4p no1 worthy at any stage of his career??


I know he was generally regarded no1 at that point but 2 close wins against Starling and knocking out McCrory make you top dawg? McCrory's best win is a 10 round decision over DeWitt, I don't mean to sh1t on Marlon Starling or Milton McCrory or especially Honeyghan but surely I'm talking a bit of sense here.

Ezzard wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:42

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:13 No disrespect to Donald Curry but was his resume p4p no1 worthy at any stage of his career??


I know he was generally regarded no1 at that point but 2 close wins against Starling and knocking out McCrory make you top dawg? McCrory's best win is a 10 round decision over DeWitt, I don't mean to sh1t on Marlon Starling or Milton McCrory or especially Honeyghan but surely I'm talking a bit of sense here

Still regardless Smith going over 2 america to knock out a dangerous 2 time world champ is some going, always rated him, his ring IQ is elite, can do it all really but in a textbook fashion

Yes and no. I agree with you on his record. But at the same time he looked electric. Curry made light of Colin Jones (though he was always a slow starter). McCrory also beat Jones and got a draw.

But the US needed a new Ray Leonard. It clearly was not Hagler. Curry was their best chance. Then Leonard came back (after telling Curry not to move up in weight - Ray had all the angles inside and outside the ring)

JC wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:49

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:13 No disrespect to Donald Curry but was his resume p4p no1 worthy at any stage of his career??


I know he was generally regarded no1 at that point but 2 close wins against Starling and knocking out McCrory make you top dawg? McCrory's best win is a 10 round decision over DeWitt, I don't mean to sh1t on Marlon Starling or Milton McCrory or especially Honeyghan but surely I'm talking a bit of sense here.

Ring magazine didn’t start doing its p4p rankings until ‘89. Dunno how unanimous the p4p1 actually was up to that point.

Ironically, the first ever Ring p4p1 was a heavyweight - Tyson

Hagler definitely had a better record than Curry in ‘86 when he fought Honeyghan. So he would have a good argument.

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:55 Honeyghan beating Curry was MASSIVE.

Smith beating Matias is brilliant but just a bit below that.

Curry was seen as the next Superstar of boxing. Looking back and dissecting now is not getting just how good he was going into the Honeyghan fight.

forcefraser wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 09:11

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 00:36

forcefraser wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 00:34 Wow. Was that stopped early?

Not a chance. He was on jelly legs.

Not so sure. There is a good argument for that having been stopped too early.

He was up and clear, a wobble yes, but he's the champion and it wasbln't a massive knockdown

You see 90% of them carry on.

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:56

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:55 Honeyghan beating Curry was MASSIVE.

Smith beating Matias is brilliant but just a bit below that.

Curry was seen as the next Superstar of boxing. Looking back and dissecting now is not getting just how good he was going into the Honeyghan fight.

Jeff Lacy-esque?

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 12:52 Dalton's win isn't in the same league as Lloyd's victory over Curry. Nowhere near IMO.
Curry was the undisputed world champion and considered "one" of the best in the game at the time....and with good reason.

I suppose it's only natural to draw comparisons and it makes for great forum debates

Personally, I'm so impressed with Smith's triumph I don't feel any urge to go further than say it was one of the great wins for a Brit overseas...especially the manner of victory

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:57

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:56

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 11:55 Honeyghan beating Curry was MASSIVE.

Smith beating Matias is brilliant but just a bit below that.

Curry was seen as the next Superstar of boxing. Looking back and dissecting now is not getting just how good he was going into the Honeyghan fight.

Jeff Lacy-esque?

Please stop

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 13:31

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 12:52 Dalton's win isn't in the same league as Lloyd's victory over Curry. Nowhere near IMO.
Curry was the undisputed world champion and considered "one" of the best in the game at the time....and with good reason.

I suppose it's only natural to draw comparisons and it makes for great forum debates

Personally, I'm so impressed with Smith's triumph I don't feel any urge to go further than say it was one of the great wins for a Brit overseas...especially the manner of victory

Off the top of my head I'd say it's number two in the US since WWII & maybe 3rd overseas after Honeyghan & John H.

olij999 wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 15:09

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 13:31

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026, 12:52 Dalton's win isn't in the same league as Lloyd's victory over Curry. Nowhere near IMO.
Curry was the undisputed world champion and considered "one" of the best in the game at the time....and with good reason.

I suppose it's only natural to draw comparisons and it makes for great forum debates

Personally, I'm so impressed with Smith's triumph I don't feel any urge to go further than say it was one of the great wins for a Brit overseas...especially the manner of victory

Off the top of my head I'd say it's number two in the US since WWII & maybe 3rd overseas after Honeyghan & John H.

I think second is a bit high given that Matias was good but not a great. Josh Taylor beating an undefeated two-belt Ramirez for the same title is probably a better win, as is Brook beating an undefeated Shawn Porter, as is Laing beating Duran. But the manner of Dalton's win was really impressive, and I think it's fair enough that we're all a bit giddy given how he won, not just just that he won. I agree with thebutch, and let's hope Smith has even bigger wins to come.