BoxRec

who wins?

Callum Smith. I like Callum as he seems quite respectable but he is definitely beatable!

To be honest, I've not watched Erik Skoglund

Skoglund strikes me as being an EBU guy around the level of Gutenechkt and Rebrasse. Decent boxer, but not particularly fast, strong, or evasive, and I remember watching him outpoint Smith KTFO victim Luke Blackledge by just a few points (perhaps that was a factor in the pick?).

I figure that Smith should be able to grind him down for a stoppage. In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

It's the perfect pick for Callum, he needs an Easy introduction, been out of the ring for a while and a warm up is just great.
I like him, maybe not to win, but definitely top 3 in this competition.
A lot of folk don't like him because of his last name and I can understand that. Hopefully by the end of this tournament opinions may change.

Callum smith will win

crusader wrote:Skoglund strikes me as being an EBU guy around the level of Gutenechkt and Rebrasse. Decent boxer, but not particularly fast, strong, or evasive, and I remember watching him outpoint Smith KTFO victim Luke Blackledge by just a few points (perhaps that was a factor in the pick?).

I figure that Smith should be able to grind him down for a stoppage. In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

Was a few years ago the Blackledge fight so Skoglund is probably better. Looking at his record Derek Edwards and Liebenberg are gate keeper level guys. I'll watch a bit of him to get a feel for his chances but the biggest factor is his ability to do the weight.

I don't rate Callum as highly as other people mainly because the last year we have seen a lack of confidence in his team to match him with any test what so ever before a world title fight. Then on top of that they pull out of the Dirrell fight because they won't fight him in his hometown.

crusader wrote: In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

He could box for the world title next fight but has chosen to give it a swerve.

Would Skoglund be considered Smith's best opponent to date or not?

BigDoofus wrote:

crusader wrote: In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

He could box for the world title next fight but has chosen to give it a swerve.

This tournament will be far more lucrative and he could be world champ afterwards, defo the right choice IMO

Horse wrote:Would Skoglund be considered Smith's best opponent to date or not?

I would say so. Who would you say it is at the moment? Fielding?

Ruthless-RKO wrote:I would say so. Who would you say it is at the moment? Fielding?

I'd say Fielding.

BigDoofus wrote:

crusader wrote: In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

He could box for the world title next fight but has chosen to give it a swerve.

I respect him for taking the tournament over the vacant title, I don't think Dirrell was any great shakes and taking the vacant title then soft defence route vs taking this tournament that provides 3 stiff tests?

davie wrote:I respect him for taking the tournament over the vacant title, I don't think Dirrell was any great shakes and taking the vacant title then soft defence route vs taking this tournament that provides 3 stiff tests?

Dirrell looks a lot more dangerous than Skoglund.

Why would he have to make soft defences if he wasn't in the tournament?

Horse wrote:

davie wrote:I respect him for taking the tournament over the vacant title, I don't think Dirrell was any great shakes and taking the vacant title then soft defence route vs taking this tournament that provides 3 stiff tests?

Dirrell looks a lot more dangerous than Skoglund.

Why would he have to make soft defences if he wasn't in the tournament?

Too bad Smith v Dirrell wasn't dropped into the tournament like the CW situation.

Horse wrote:

davie wrote:I respect him for taking the tournament over the vacant title, I don't think Dirrell was any great shakes and taking the vacant title then soft defence route vs taking this tournament that provides 3 stiff tests?

Dirrell looks a lot more dangerous than Skoglund.

Why would he have to make soft defences if he wasn't in the tournament?

He wouldn't have to

But Hearn would have got him a few anyway

handsofstone wrote:

BigDoofus wrote:

crusader wrote: In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

He could box for the world title next fight but has chosen to give it a swerve.

This tournament will be far more lucrative and he could be world champ afterwards, defo the right choice IMO

He could be world champ in a couple of months but he's ducked Dirrell.

The tournament could be lucrative but what is to stop fighters pulling out "injured"?

davie wrote:

BigDoofus wrote:

crusader wrote: In my opinion Smith is a world class fighter and simply hasn't had the comp to really break out.

He could box for the world title next fight but has chosen to give it a swerve.

I respect him for taking the tournament over the vacant title, I don't think Dirrell was any great shakes and taking the vacant title then soft defence route vs taking this tournament that provides 3 stiff tests?

You don't think Dirrell is any great shakes yet Smith has ducked him.
You're respecting Smith for taking 3 stiff tests when he's not had one yet.

Naandrew wrote:
I don't rate Callum as highly as other people mainly because the last year we have seen a lack of confidence in his team to match him with any test what so ever before a world title fight.

Tesco Joe's boxers have a tendency to get beat when they step up, they rely on Hearn to pad their records out.

Gonna catch a bit of skoglund now.

Smith has opened up at 1/25 with bookies

Skoglund is 15/2

Don't know much about the opponent so it's an ignorant pick on my part - smith

Why do BoxRec have Skoglund ranked at super middleweight when he has never fought there as a pro?

Watched bits of skoglund just now.

Nothing really stands out to be honest.

I do think smith is very beatable just skoglund doesn't have the attributes to do that.

I dont consider this a duck. The tournament is highly lucrative, includes a world title, features arguably 4 top 10 fighters, and should keep the successful fighters busy.

IMO, there are plenty of reasons for Smith to enter which have nothing to due with fearing a loss to Dirrell.

Agreed this isn't a duck. Shame the Dirrell fight couldn't have worked like eubank vs abraham situation

crusader wrote:I dont consider this a duck. The tournament is highly lucrative, includes a world title, features arguably 4 top 10 fighters, and should keep the successful fighters busy.

IMO, there are plenty of reasons for Smith to enter which have nothing to due with fearing a loss to Dirrell.

+1

I still would have preferred that fight have been included in the tourney like Gassiev v Wlod has been at CW. But, I am still excited about the SMW tourney.