Jose Pedraza (c) vs. Stephen Smith - April 16th 2016

[The Law]

Damn I'm the only one going for Smith stoppage.

Only saw Pedraza v Cherry and though was unimpressed

That was Pedraza's worst performance.

This was the only time I seem him as well and i thought he lost that fight. Based on that fight I take Smith on points.

That was definitely Pedraza's worst performance. He has looked amazing in his other fights. I expect him to outbox Smith. Pedraza is also big at the weight

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ycp4vUrfkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXkSZelFClg

[Boxerbeetle]

I'm really looking forward to this one

[wesshaw1985]

anybody know what time Smith is due in the ring?

[kidbazooka1]

Big fan of Pedraza and beautiful boxing display in schooling smith.

Pedraza against Fortuna would be real fun.

[crusader]

Sounds like the fight went how I suspected it would. Pedraza is much better than he looked against Cherry and has the right style to beat Smith.

[states]

Game effort from Smith, but just never had enough. Whenever he seemed to be coming into the fight, Pedraza found that little bit extra.

[Andrew]

Pedraza was just a level above the issue is 2 other world champs are HBO based (Loma is definitely beating Martinez ) and Uchiyama just fights in his own bubble. Fortuna would be a decent fight next.

Swifty gave it a good go and can hold his head up high he just isn't world level.

[handsofstone]

Great effort from Smith he gave it his all but Pedraza just had that bit of extra quality ,i had it 115-112,Pedraza is a class act but he does tend to switch off now and again which allowed Stephen to get into it but as soon as it looked as if the tide was shifting Jose came back to stamp his authority back on the fight and the KD in the 9th just cemented his superiority for me,credit to Smith though he tried his best and made Pedraza work for the win,he just couldnt get fully in the driving seat,found it hard to work the body which is one of his main strengths,he's a slippery customer Pedraza

Back to the drawing board for Smith,if he could get the Martinez fight i'd give him a great chance providing he didnt get tagged

[PredatorHayds]

Pedraza was just a level above the issue is 2 other world champs are HBO based (Loma is definitely beating Martinez ) and Uchiyama just fights in his own bubble. Fortuna would be a decent fight next.

Swifty gave it a good go and can hold his head up high he just isn't world level.

Agreed. Pedraza is s good fighter but not the best in the division.

I'd rate swifty top end Euro-Level or lower end World class.
He could be a world champion but it would involve clever matchmaking like his brother Liam benefited from.

[Boxing Prospect]

Pedraza was just a level above the issue is 2 other world champs are HBO based (Loma is definitely beating Martinez ) and Uchiyama just fights in his own bubble. Fortuna would be a decent fight next.

Swifty gave it a good go and can hold his head up high he just isn't world level.

In fairness to Uchiyama he did try and get out of the bubble. The plan was for him vs Walters on the Pac vs Bradley III card, the WBA threw a spanner into the works and told him to face Fortuna. Again Uchiyama was wanting fight in the US, but Fortuna's team was said to have been very uncooperative, offered next to nothing to get the fight made and asked for $360,000 to fly their man to Japan.

With Fortuna showing real reluctance the WBA allowed Uchiyama to face Corrales.

He has however said he'd like to fight in the US next so hopefully something will be done with Pedraza/Fortuna/Vargas/Salido or whoever

[bripez]

He could be a world champion but it would involve clever matchmaking like his brother Liam benefited from.

Ironically Liam benefitted from his brother and Boomer leaving FW - Frank then did all he could to get him an easy title to prove to the ingrates that they should have stayed with the master !!

[Andrew]

Pedraza was just a level above the issue is 2 other world champs are HBO based (Loma is definitely beating Martinez ) and Uchiyama just fights in his own bubble. Fortuna would be a decent fight next.

Swifty gave it a good go and can hold his head up high he just isn't world level.

In fairness to Uchiyama he did try and get out of the bubble. The plan was for him vs Walters on the Pac vs Bradley III card, the WBA threw a spanner into the works and told him to face Fortuna. Again Uchiyama was wanting fight in the US, but Fortuna's team was said to have been very uncooperative, offered next to nothing to get the fight made and asked for $360,000 to fly their man to Japan.

With Fortuna showing real reluctance the WBA allowed Uchiyama to face Corrales.

He has however said he'd like to fight in the US next so hopefully something will be done with Pedraza/Fortuna/Vargas/Salido or whoever

I'm aware of that fiasco shame as Both fights are very good but if Fortuna doesn't want to prove he is the best in his weight class then his paper belt shouldn't exist.