BoxRec

RING WALKS / TV

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Running Order

Zuhayr Al Qahtani vs. Giorgi Gviniashvili

Mikael Lawal vs. Tamas Kozma

Aliu Bamidele Lasisi vs. Artid Bamrungauea

Kem Ljungquist vs. Mourad Omar

Darren Surtees vs. Kane Baker

Chris Eubank Jr vs. JJ McDonagh

WBA, WBC Diamond & The Ring Magazine World Super Middleweight Titles
George Groves vs. Callum Smith
-------------------------------------------------
Stats

George Groves
Age: 30
Title: WBA super middleweight (2017-Present, 2 Defenses)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’11 ½
Weight: 167 ½ lbs.
Hails from: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Record: 28-3, 20 KO, 2 KOBY
Rankings: #1 (TBRB, Ring, Boxing Monthly, Boxrec), #2 (ESPN)
Record in Title Fights: 3-3, 2 KO, 2 KOBY
Last Five Opponents: 127-9-2 (.928)
WBSS Seed: 1
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: James DeGale MD12; Glen Johnson UD12; Carl Froch TKO by 9, TKO by 8; Badou Jack L12; Fedor Chudinov TKO6

Vs.

Callum Smith
Titles: None
Previous Titles: None
Age: 28
Height: 6’3
Weight: 167 ½ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Record: 24-0, 17 KO
Press Rankings: #3 (Ring, Boxing Monthly), #4 (BoxRec), #5 (ESPN), #8 (TBRB)
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st title opportunity
Last Five Opponents: 96-12-5 (.871)
WBSS Seed: 2
Current/Former World Champions Faced: None (Rocky Fielding TKO1; current WBA sub-titlist)

The Case for Groves: If the fight comes down to experience alone, Groves wins. Experience is an inefficient gauge; no one is experienced until they are. Groves has learned from past failures and shown great mental resolve to put together a seven-fight win streak that marks the best work of his career. Against Smith, he appears to be a hair quicker and more fluid; it could make the difference in close rounds. If the fight falls into clinches he’s good at working the free hand and when both are free he works the body well. If Groves can make the longer Smith reach, his overhand right is likely to find a home. A lot of his game works off the jab and Groves comes into this fight after surgery following a dislocated left shoulder in the Eubank fight. Is he fully recovered? That’s a question mark, as he’ll need the lead to get into the distance he needs with Smith. There have been concerns in the past about the late stamina of Groves; this looks like a potential distance fight so pacing his approach will be important.

The Case for Smith: Smith is big for the division; the same listed height as cruiserweight tournament winner Oleksandr Usyk with a slightly longer reach. He’s about four inches taller than Grove with more reach on him than Jack or Froch. Smith has an excellent, long jab and it will be the foundation of any hopes for victory. It is the weapon that can take away any split second edge in speed Groves possesses. Smith, one of four fighting brothers including former Jr. middleweight titlist Liam, has appeared the most talented of the brood. While he lacks in professional experience on paper, his immersion in the sport should make up for some of that. While he’s gone the route in both tournament fights so far, he can punch with the right hand. It’s one weapon in an offensive arsenal that includes a sharp left hook, uppercut, and willingness to go hard to the body. If he can rise to the biggest moment of his career, he has all the physical tools for the upset.

The Pick: One thing we haven’t seen much of in the WBSS so far is upsets. The seeding played out to perfection in the cruiserweight field and has done the same here. Groves has been on a roll and Smith is still unproven. That probably won’t be true anymore after Friday. Smith has looked like a champion in wait for a while. His longer jab, sharper offense, and physicality should be enough here to end the hot streak for Groves. The pick is Smith to emerge as a new, central force in the super middleweight, perhaps with a late stoppage.

Prince Naseem has lost weight.

ive gone smith, but that write up suggests he has the superior jab and im not sure thats true at all

Clear rabbit punch KO.

Good finish tho'
Lawal is an incredible specimen, if he has a chin and a good team, he'll go far.

jamamb wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 13:46 ive gone smith, but that write up suggests he has the superior jab and im not sure thats true at all

Yeah - I remember the Skoglund fight and peeps on here shouting "big, stiff idiot" at Smith and the internet.
Groves outboxes thatCallum Smith, Shirley ?

Good atmosphere for the Saudi fighter

Gone with callum here, think with grove's shoulder issues and the size difference that Smith puts it on him and gets a finish.

Somehow escaped my attention that the fight was tonight and not tomorrow lol

Whoah !
KO of the year contender.
Worst nom de guerre of the year contender
A mixed night for Darren "Danger Daz" Surtees.

Was a lovely finish there. Don't think the second punch was naughty, he was still on his feet.

Fair play to Kane Baker getting up from that knockdown, no condition to continue though.
Surtees was landing that left hook in the first and thought it wouldn't go far.

going smith decision

Anyone got a link please, i'm stuck at work

What was that knockdown?? Was that odd.
Eubank looks a bit chunkier than before

Very strange knockdown that no power at all can only assume it clipped his temple.

Nice opening post Ruthie. I really appreciate the effort
I unfortunately can't get to watch this fight, so will be tuning in here.
Bring it ooon!!

CEJ boxing with a more serious demeanour than usual

for me i cant take hardly anything from cejs fights vs guys like this. hes looked red hot before but then fails to carry it up the levels.

hes gott some real good natural talent but its amazing how little he improved technically and strategically over his career. he was very green turning pro and i wouldve expected more improvements from a guy like that. wont right him off yet but hes gotta prove it at higher levels.

WTF was that? McDonough just quit

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 15:08 WTF was that? McDonough just quit

Blatant fix.

does anyone know how that is sett;ed bet wise? was on eubank in 3

Was JJ's corner saying "Don't do it" to him. No reason given

skanksta wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 13:51

jamamb wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 13:46 ive gone smith, but that write up suggests he has the superior jab and im not sure thats true at all

Yeah - I remember the Skoglund fight and peeps on here shouting "big, stiff idiot" at Smith and the internet.

that would have been me