BoxRec

This is the headline in today's Liverpool Echo.

He is quoted as saying: "I'm not going to be someone milling around fighting for British titles, if I don't feel like I can get to the best then I'll leave it but after the camp we've just had I feel I've got a hell of a lot left".

This seems to be the approach of many boxers over the years who have pursued random International titles rather than having some good domestic fights.

He falls into the same bracket as Paul, Martin Murray and a few others - good domestic level boxers but will not win a proper World title, and have proved to struggle to win a world belt.

The problem with the Smith brothers and this aura around them is it is all fabricated. Only Callum I would say is 'world class'. For Stephen to say he is not milling around to fight for British titles is pathetic. He may have no other choice if he wants to keep fighting. He was lucky to even get the shot against Sosa and although he put on a brave display he was always outclassed.

bripez wrote:Stephen Smith eyes third world title shot

Against?
I wonder who Stephen thinks he can beat?

jaymitch81 wrote:The problem with the Smith brothers and this aura around them is it is all fabricated. Only Callum I would say is 'world class'. For Stephen to say he is not milling around to fight for British titles is pathetic. He may have no other choice if he wants to keep fighting. He was lucky to even get the shot against Sosa and although he put on a brave display he was always outclassed.

Callum has yet to prove he is world class, he may become it but at the moment he is a prospect. I think he will win a world title but he has a lot to prove yet.

jaymitch81 wrote:The problem with the Smith brothers and this aura around them is it is all fabricated. Only Callum I would say is 'world class'. For Stephen to say he is not milling around to fight for British titles is pathetic. He may have no other choice if he wants to keep fighting. He was lucky to even get the shot against Sosa and although he put on a brave display he was always outclassed.

Agreed it didn't sound good saying he doesn't want to fight at British level. He did well against Sosa, but Sosa looked a beatable champ on paper. the SMith's certainly do seem to get more than their fair share of world title shots I'll give them that, maybe now he feels entitled to that.

I don't know why Stephen acts like it would be somehow shameful to be a British Champion or European Champion. I certainly think he's good enough to accomplish that, and it's nothing to be down on yourself about. He could win the British title or European title. Defend it a while and maybe get another crack at a World Title.

I don't know why he'd just keep getting shot after shot at a World Title when he's losing pretty convincingly every time he gets a shot, and he's not exactly fighting the cream of the crop of the division either. There are guys at 130 ranked ahead of both Sosa and Pedraza.

gilgamesh wrote:I don't know why Stephen acts like it would be somehow shameful to be a British Champion or European Champion. I certainly think he's good enough to accomplish that, and it's nothing to be down on yourself about. He could win the British title or European title. Defend it a while and maybe get another crack at a World Title.

I don't know why he'd just keep getting shot after shot at a World Title when he's losing pretty convincingly every time he gets a shot, and he's not exactly fighting the cream of the crop of the division either. There are guys at 130 ranked ahead of both Sosa and Pedraza.

I guess he thinks with already holding the British title at weights is a big step back. Imo the European title sud b something they look at.

maley1984 wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:I don't know why Stephen acts like it would be somehow shameful to be a British Champion or European Champion. I certainly think he's good enough to accomplish that, and it's nothing to be down on yourself about. He could win the British title or European title. Defend it a while and maybe get another crack at a World Title.

I don't know why he'd just keep getting shot after shot at a World Title when he's losing pretty convincingly every time he gets a shot, and he's not exactly fighting the cream of the crop of the division either. There are guys at 130 ranked ahead of both Sosa and Pedraza.

I guess he thinks with already holding the British title at weights is a big step back. Imo the European title sud b something they look at.

Indeed

bripez wrote:This is the headline in today's Liverpool Echo.

He is quoted as saying: "I'm not going to be someone milling around fighting for British titles, if I don't feel like I can get to the best then I'll leave it but after the camp we've just had I feel I've got a hell of a lot left".

This seems to be the approach of many boxers over the years who have pursued random International titles rather than having some good domestic fights.

He falls into the same bracket as Paul, Martin Murray and a few others - good domestic level boxers but will not win a proper World title, and have proved to struggle to win a world belt.

Kevin Mitchell thought that he was too good for the domestic scene too and fought uninteresting foreigners for years on end in fights that will be quickly forgotten.

There is nothing wrong with dropping back to British title level in between world title attempts and having some lower level fights that people will actually give a crap about.

These fighters turning their noses up at the British title is quite disgusting really.

maley1984 wrote:I guess he thinks with already holding the British title at weights is a big step back. Imo the European title sud b something they look at.

He never won it outright though.

Why is fighting for the British title a backwards step, but fighting a load of foreign journeymen isn't?

I don't understand the logic of these arrogant fighters.

I totall understand where Stephen is coming from, he's been focused at world level for some time and though failing won't want to take a step back.

Imo he needs to move in a different direction trainer wise, rebuild in the gym with his new trainer and look to relaunch at European level...

Tactically things were wrong at the start of the Sosa fight and although he did well with the upper cut and subsequent combos off that stopping Sosa coming forward in the mid rounds he was always having to dig deeper just to stay in the fight..

He needs new ideas,a fresh start imo

Boxrec's Top 20 SF's has Smith at 18. I don't see him beating many of the other 19 without some home cooking. Generously, I think he could beat 5 of them.

Stuffs wrote:Boxrec's Top 20 SF's has Smith at 18. I don't see him beating many of the other 19 without some home cooking. Generously, I think he could beat 5 of them.

He almost beat Sosa, so I don't see why he can't beat any of the other top 20 fighters.

Horse wrote:

maley1984 wrote:I guess he thinks with already holding the British title at weights is a big step back. Imo the European title sud b something they look at.

He never won it outright though.

Why is fighting for the British title a backwards step, but fighting a load of foreign journeymen isn't?

I don't understand the logic of these arrogant fighters.

I agree totally mate. U hit the nail on the head arrogant.

Horse wrote:

Stuffs wrote:Boxrec's Top 20 SF's has Smith at 18. I don't see him beating many of the other 19 without some home cooking. Generously, I think he could beat 5 of them.

He almost beat Sosa, so I don't see why he can't beat any of the other top 20 fighters.

Almost? he was comfortably beaten just as he was when he stepped up against pedraza and Selby. He's Euro level at best but even then I could see him losing.

rio wrote:Almost? he was comfortably beaten just as he was when he stepped up against pedraza and Selby. He's Euro level at best but even then I could see him losing.

Well, I don't like the Arthur Abraham-esque plodding around the ring being strong but lazy style, so I was biased against Sosa.

Smith should drop down to domestic level, it's not as if he has to stay there if he keeps winning.

He really should be fighting Liam Walsh at some point.

Horse wrote:

Stuffs wrote:Boxrec's Top 20 SF's has Smith at 18. I don't see him beating many of the other 19 without some home cooking. Generously, I think he could beat 5 of them.

He almost beat Sosa, so I don't see why he can't beat any of the other top 20 fighters.

The other night you thought he did beat him. Did you rewatch it and change your mind?

I remember Simpson fighting Smith twice and I thought he was unlucky in both. I can't see Smith beating any of the current champions. His best chance is to fight a couple of ranking fights and hope a title becomes vacant IMO.

Horse wrote:

rio wrote:Almost? he was comfortably beaten just as he was when he stepped up against pedraza and Selby. He's Euro level at best but even then I could see him losing.

Well, I don't like the Arthur Abraham-esque plodding around the ring being strong but lazy style, so I was biased against Sosa.

Smith should drop down to domestic level, it's not as if he has to stay there if he keeps winning.

He really should be fighting Liam Walsh at some point.

Personally I though if had been with another trainer he could possibly have beaten Sosa. The tactics were all wrong, I can't believe that if he had mcguigan in his corner he wouldn't have been able to adapt, sosa wasn't great when pushed back.

Horse wrote:

rio wrote:Almost? he was comfortably beaten just as he was when he stepped up against pedraza and Selby. He's Euro level at best but even then I could see him losing.

Well, I don't like the Arthur Abraham-esque plodding around the ring being strong but lazy style, so I was biased against Sosa.

Smith should drop down to domestic level, it's not as if he has to stay there if he keeps winning.

He really should be fighting Liam Walsh at some point.

Walsh beats smith imo late stoppage

Walsh would absolutely beat Smith IMO, and probably stop him

Counter-puncher wrote:Walsh would absolutely beat Smith IMO, and probably stop him

Agree, a knock out in waiting that one.

Completely the right attitude to have I wouldn't expect anything else from someone wanting to box. Frank Bruno took a few attempts. If at first you don't succeed try try and try again

Against who though?

Corrales the WBA Super Champion beats him, The WBC have him in there rankings so could be an opening there but is it a winnable fight? Probably not.

He could hope that Walsh picks up the IBF, but it is well known that Smith wanted no part of Walsh for years. He could try moving up to Lightweight but I don't think he is big or strong enough to do anything there.

Horse wrote:

rio wrote:Almost? he was comfortably beaten just as he was when he stepped up against pedraza and Selby. He's Euro level at best but even then I could see him losing.

Well, I don't like the Arthur Abraham-esque plodding around the ring being strong but lazy style, so I was biased against Sosa.
.

Sosa was far from plodding and lazy
I really don't know what you were watching

rd350lc wrote:Sosa was far from plodding and lazy
I really don't know what you were watching

Sosa looked good in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and then everyone apart from me went nuts and assumed he was still being good later in the fight when he wasn't.

Vastly overrated fighter in my opinion.