BoxRec

Genuinely don't understand this one.

Decent fighter, brave as a lion.

Talks well, has been on here before and engaged with the likes of us freely.

I don't see what the problem is?

There are some closet wall flowers on here IMO

I like Paul Smith and it's a shame he doesn't post on here anymore and like you i don't see what the problem is with some people.i'd also like to wish him good luck for Saturday,he'll need it.

I have mixed feelings about him to be honest - He did well as an amateur, and has has a lot to be proud of as a pro too. I didn't expect him to do well against Abraham, so I accept I was wrong, and hats off to him that he proved he could perform on the world stage. He's got a good boxing brain, decent power - but lacks the higher level of athleticism needed to succeed at the very top in my opinion. Like a lot of people on here, I think he could have probably dropped down to middleweight, which would have suited his frame more. Every body's body is different - but he always looks a little fleshy and smooth for the weight he's at. At one point, I even remember him saying he was considering a drop to middleweight - so I don't think it's unfair to have this opinion. The fact that this never happened, makes me wonder if he worked on his diet as hard as other pros have? Maybe he did... I guess only he knows for sure. Another thing I've heard Paul Smith say is that he didn't train hard when he first turned pro. Now he's fighting one of the best P4P boxers in the world after losing his last two stints at world level against a significantly lesser fighter. So for me, I do feel like compared to other pros who have trained harder, performed better - Paul Smith has been fortunate in that he's been given plenty of opportunities in big fights. He has both Mr. Warren and Mr. Hearn to thank for that, and I don't for a minute resent him taking the opportunities. I just feel bad for the boxers that have put more into this sport and got less out of it.

I think he's a very good commentator - and I agree with what he says 99% of the time - and I usually side with him (not vocally though!) when he has one of his many twitter rants, etc. He does however, come across as surly and judgemental a lot of the time ... which kind of puts me off his personality a bit. Again, no fault of his own - but I'm sick to death of Sky playing on the whole 'Smith Brothers' gimmick. They're starting to become the Scouse Kardashians or something. When you get force fed something enough, you do tend to resent it and get sick of it. As I've said, this is not Paul Smith's fault ... but there you go.

Hope he does well against Ward too.

He didn't help himself on here. He was like Horse, but could fight.

mickey1975 wrote:He didn't help himself on here. He was like Horse, but could fight.

Horse isn't noted for loving his nan loads but otherwise, yeah, sound comparison

He's a great on screen summariser/commentator and pundit but he can come across as a complete arse on Twitter though.

His brother, Stephen was excellent on here, good with banter and laughed any digs off - Paul didn't like anyone holding a differing view to his - he seemed to feel he was the expert and his view was the only conceivable view to entertain. To be fair though, Lefty could be pretty persistent when he was in the mood for a spat.

He's had lots of opportunities and never delivered? Good luck to him but don't make out your a great fighter when we have already seen he isn't and to way too many excuses when he has been beaten soundly.

Rexob wrote:He's had lots of opportunities and never delivered? Good luck to him but don't make out your a great fighter when we have already seen he isn't and to way too many excuses when he has been beaten soundly.

I don't think it's that Rexob, most are supportive of his luck and chances though their are good questions about when he'll defend the British. I think some can remember how arsey he was when posting, we can be very fragile and fickle - if he said he was sorry then he could come back and it'd all be forgotten.

He's won Central area title, British title at 2 weights, WBU and WBA international titles and won 35 out of 40 so harsh to say he hasn't delivered when it matters. In the main it has taken world class fighters to beat him - Abraham, Groves and Degale.

mickey1975 wrote:He didn't help himself on here. He was like Horse, but could fight.

But can he fight? Paul smith that is!

Na seriously he's just very average and not exciting to watch

Manchester Massive wrote:He's won Central area title, British title at 2 weights, WBU and WBA international titles and won 35 out of 40 so harsh to say he hasn't delivered when it matters. In the main it has taken world class fighters to beat him - Abraham, Groves and Degale.

Problem is there is a massive gap between the people who have beaten Smith and the people he has beaten.

I remember Buddy McGirt being impressed by Smith on Contender about 10 years ago before Paul withdrew from the competition, it seems that this is the first time ever that he's been active,he's had far too many barren spells

Also is he still British champ? Disgrace if he is,more so as he's stated regularly that he'll only give it up for Callum,that was yonks ago he beat Dodson

Then you get the BBBC making Limond give up his Lonsdale or they threatened to strip him and send him to the back of the queue,so Willie vacated,then Jenkins-Nurse get postponed ,so you would've thought Limond-Jenkins could have been rearranged but Nurse got to step in again???

I don't t know off the top of my head when Limond took the British from Woodhouse but I'm pretty sure it was after the Smigga-Dodson rematch yet as far as I'm aware, Paul is just getting to sit on the Lonsdale

Isn't Paul Butler still British champ too?

Manchester Massive wrote:He's won Central area title, British title at 2 weights, WBU and WBA international titles and won 35 out of 40 so harsh to say he hasn't delivered when it matters. In the main it has taken world class fighters to beat him - Abraham, Groves and Degale.

Fight records don't mean squat, WBU WBA international titles WTF! meaningless, British champion fair play to him but he has overachieved IMO.

Rexob wrote:

Manchester Massive wrote:He's won Central area title, British title at 2 weights, WBU and WBA international titles and won 35 out of 40 so harsh to say he hasn't delivered when it matters. In the main it has taken world class fighters to beat him - Abraham, Groves and Degale.

Fight records don't mean squat, WBU WBA international titles WTF! meaningless, British champion fair play to him but he has overachieved IMO.

Hasn't he only won British Super Middleweight title,but twice?

But I will say I do hope he beats Ward! it would be great to see his smug face after

Because he is world level....

Manchester Massive wrote:Abraham, Groves and Degale.

And Steve Bendall of course.

Has just weighed in almost 5lbs over the contracted limit of 172 for the Ward fight


Ward 171lbs
Smith 176.4lbs

elephant man wrote:Has just weighed in almost 5lbs over the contracted limit of 172 for the Ward fight


Ward 171lbs
Smith 176.4lbs

Seriously??? FFS

Sure he's vacated the British title purse bids been called for Callum smith v rocky fielding for september

I used to wonder why he got a hard time on here too and then had a tit for tat argument with him on twitter. I now think he is a bit of a banger. He fails to grasp that fans have opinions on the sport and if someone isnt in 100% agreement with him then they are wrong. Seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder in my opinion, I still wouldnt wish him any misfortunes and hope he makes a decent account of himself against Ward but sadly if he does then I can only see him becoming even more of a plum.

I agree he comes across well on TV etc but think he lacks respect for boxing fans who dont feel the need to suck up his pipe.

elephant man wrote:Has just weighed in almost 5lbs over the contracted limit of 172 for the Ward fight


Ward 171lbs
Smith 176.4lbs

That's a disgrace from fat boy smith. Biggest fight of his life and cant even be arsed to get in shape I wouldn't pay him for that

I must admit, I looked at the weigh in, he was well over stipulation and wasn't looking tip top condition for the fight opportunity of his life, podgy, not bigger in the face off neither hopefully a genius plan will happen and Ward gets fucked, cannot see it ....... wtf is going on!!

Based on his time here and the occasional look at his Twitter he seems like an asshole to me.