Paul Smith v James Degale

[johan88]

Just confirmed by Paul Smith via Twitter. Who wins?

I'm looking forward to a great fight which isn't too easy to call. Degale is the obvious choice but Smith is a warrior and will take some beating- it wont be another Karl Dilks job!

[Deserter]

I'm genuinely surprised this match has been made. Fwank must have some serious faith in Degale to be throwing him in with Smith at this stage of his career.
Equally, he's clearly not remotely concerned about trying to manoeuvre Smith into a position where he's challenging for higher honours - talk about a minimum reward, maximum risk fight for the Liverpudlian.
Great match for the fans though.
Hope Smith pulls it off.

[$wifty]

Maybe the people who slag Paul at every chance saying he wont fight anyone will realise Paul will fight whoever is put in front of him now?

[Counter-puncher]

this is on the Dec 11th show?

[gobbles]

I'm genuinely surprised this match has been made. Fwank must have some serious faith in Degale to be throwing him in with Smith at this stage of his career.
Equally, he's clearly not remotely concerned about trying to manoeuvre Smith into a position where he's challenging for higher honours - talk about a minimum reward, maximum risk fight for the Liverpudlian.
Great match for the fans though.
Hope Smith pulls it off.

Career high pay day, home advantage for Smith. If he wins, he's made his name for a world title fight. If he loses, he's still in mix for British title as Warren will have to move DeGale on quickly.
Could be start of a rivalry to replace Groves v DeGale. Let's not forget Watson kayoed Benn for the Commonwealth title.

[johan88]

this is on the Dec 11th show?

Yes

[Captain Hook]

Maybe the people who slag Paul at every chance saying he wont fight anyone will realise Paul will fight whoever is put in front of him now?

Erm, did he have much choice?

Is DeGale deserving of a British title shot yet? I agree Warren must have a lot of faith in him.

I personally think he'll win this on points and take a few lessons from Smith along the way. Should be a cracker.

[jBacca]

Tell you what, Smigga is going to have big support at the Echo.

Come on Paul !!!!!!!!!!!

[leforge]

Maybe the people who slag Paul at every chance saying he wont fight anyone will realise Paul will fight whoever is put in front of him now?

Erm, did he have much choice?

Is DeGale deserving of a British title shot yet? I agree Warren must have a lot of faith in him.

I personally think he'll win this on points and take a few lessons from Smith along the way. Should be a cracker.

Why did Frank not try get Smith a shot at vacant Euro title boost his world rankings. Smith too good fo Degale at this stage!

[$wifty]

Maybe the people who slag Paul at every chance saying he wont fight anyone will realise Paul will fight whoever is put in front of him now?

Erm, did he have much choice?

Is DeGale deserving of a British title shot yet? I agree Warren must have a lot of faith in him.

I personally think he'll win this on points and take a few lessons from Smith along the way. Should be a cracker.

Yes, he had complete choice

[Captain Hook]

Why are you getting frustrated I only asked the question? That's what we are here for pal.

Should be a good fight, seen them both fight at the Echo Arena (when Smith beat Quigley), good atmosphere.

[stevek3lly]

I am behind Paul Smith all the way. He gets my support unlike some on hear. I do not like Degale and hope he gets a good hiding and is made to realise how hard boxing is. Come on Paul.

[forcefraser]

Great fight and a reall 50/50 for me.

Credit to Degale for stepping up and credit to Smigga for taking this fight for his Lonsdale belt. let`s just hope we get a decent ref who let`s the fight play out properly.

I`ll go for Smigga on points in a brutal and bloody battle. Anybody got odds for a Smigga points win?

[$wifty]

Why are you getting frustrated I only asked the question? That's what we are here for pal.

Should be a good fight, seen them both fight at the Echo Arena (when Smith beat Quigley), good atmosphere.

No gettin frustrated with u mate, its just when people are saying he wont fight anyone etc when I know full well he will do......should be a good show anyway, biggest show in years from all accounts

[Captain Hook]

No worries, having seen Paul fight several times he is certainly not one to duck a challenge.

I'll be honest, I fancy DeGale for this, but it will be a bruising and bloody battle for the Olympian and Paul will give him all the trouble he can handle.

My heart says Paul but the head says Chunky. As I said Swifty, should be a belter of a scrap.

[$wifty]

Yeah, its good that we are finally seeing competetive matches at domestic level in Britain. A lot of credit to FWP

[mickey1975]

Well done Spud!He did tell us all but we wouldnt listen.

[Baboon]

Great fight, like a few above I'm down the line of heart says Smith, head says Degale. Allegedly isn't likely to put Degale into a fight he doesn't think he can win (by some distance) given the money he has ploughed into him.

However, this is a good match up for Smith too, Degale is undoubtedly not the finished article and as yet hasn't faced anyone who has put him under any pressure at all - in fairness to him this looked like a possibility against Dilks but he was just too quick. Therfore this is as good a time as any for Smith to take him on, who knows how Degale will react under pressure, if Smith can put him under pressure, which I think he can.

I reckon Smith has got more in him than he displayed against Dodson and Quigley. It'll be interesting to see if he's the kind of fighter who adjust to the level of the opponent (i.e. struggles a bit against domestic level - but can step it up a level when driven to).

I'll go with a late Degale stoppage (especially with a british ref), but that's more guesswork than anything at the moment as we haven't seen degale under pressure and I've got a suspicion Smith might rise to the occasion.

Great match, bound to be a great atmoshpere.

Best of luck to the boxrec local

[deadpan]

Would be a great fight. And Smith would win.

I hope this isn't the biggie on the bill that falls through.

[jBacca]

Well done Spud!He did tell us all but we wouldnt listen.

There was only a few that completely dismissed the notion, fella.

Most people thought it was unlikely, but never ruled it out.

[mickey1975]

Well done Spud!He did tell us all but we wouldnt listen.

There was only a few that completely dismissed the notion, fella.

Most people thought it was unlikely, but never ruled it out.

He also named the date!Im amazed its happening,but glad.It should be a great night,hats off to Fwank.

[Asterix]

Great news. Kudos to both fighters for agreeing to it.

[alexpaterson]

This is such a hard fight for Chunky, Smith is a proven domestic and possibly higher level fighter and its infront of his home town. Hats of to DeGale for taking this fight and to Smith as well, should be a good one. Im fancying Smith to stop DeGale late, possibly losing on the cards though

[Lightsoot]

Given Smith's performances against Dodson and Quigley, and generally throughout his career, I think DeGale will win this comfortably. I'm just not sure what Smith's got that will trouble DeGale. Power? Well, I don't think Paul has graduated into the puncher some anticipated that he would and as he's stepped up to super-middle he's gone the distance in 4 of his last 6 fights.

Speed? No, DeGale definitely appears quicker. Boxing skills? DeGale again. The only edge I give to Smith is that Paul's extremely tough and is a proven championship fighter and if DeGale has to battle the scales then things may get interesting late on. But I just can't see it lasting beyond 8 rounds. I think this fight is more about how impressive DeGale will look, as opposed to whether the step up has come too early.

[fizzjambo]

Fair play to Warren for putting the two together now rather than 6-9 months down the line. A BIG step up for DeGale given that Smith has been a pro for seven years and is a veteran of 30 pro fights and a very decent amatuer career.

Personally I reckon this will bring the best out of both men. There is no way Smith will freeze like Dilks did in September and he has shown in his last two fights that when things get tough he steps up to the plate and comings firing right back.

My worry for Smith is that he needed to dig reasonably deep against the likes of Dodson (who last significant win was eight years previously against Barbosa and had been stopped by Moreno and Rybacki) and Quigely (who had significantly less experience and had had a fairly torrid affair with Dodson himself - great fight but maybe both were a level below where we thought they were at the time?). Barring those two wins Smith's best three victories were probably against Reid (one win in his previous five and subsequently lost his next seven), Banks (on a razor thin verdict in albeit a 5 rounder) and Checka who has lost everytime he stepped up.

DeGale hasn't faced this level of opposition but has impressed since his dull debut and has shown good combinations, quick hands, superb balance and aggressive intent, plus decent power. We are yet to see what his chin's like but Smith hasn't really ever shown significant one punch power so far, although he keeps coming and can certainly hurt over the stretch.

I feel Smith would probably have won Magees vacant Euro title and could certainly mix with the winner of Magee/ Sartison or Steiglitz and have a good chance of winning so fair play to him for taking a fight some would argue he doesn't need. I'd back DeGale to have done enough by the 8th - 10th though