BoxRec

A couple of friends of mine went to Liverpool on the weekend, apparently Paul Smith looked very impressive even though it was a KO1 .... does anyone know much about the kid?

Sorry details are sparce but I've only spoke to the mates missus who went, all I've got so far is second hand info on what the lads reported.

Didn't he stop Jason Collins? That doesn't mean a great deal these days but Collins did beat Thirlwall so i suppose he was somewhat revitalised...i have seen Smith once or twice and he seems promising.

well the last opponent he faced according to boxrec was collins but he actually fought again last saturday night and mullered the guy inside a round. Apparently the Hatton brothers were both there watching him (stable-mates??) although their mates were ripping the pi55 out of matt hatton because nobody wanted his autograph but all the kids wanted rickys.

I didn't know he had fought again, he is certainly keeping busy..shame for Matthew Hatton

He stopped Howard Clarke in the first round KO.

Smith is building up a nice record (but beating the usual journeymen) along the way.

He beat a mate of mine in the amateurs. A good friend who knows his stuff rates him really highly. I've seen him twice in the flesh myself and he looks like a handy operator.

What weight is Smith, if he is Super Middle or lower than a first round KO over Clarke is impressive. He usually sees out the opening bell.

stujones wrote:What weight is Smith, if he is Super Middle or lower than a first round KO over Clarke is impressive. He usually sees out the opening bell.

Middle. Saw Clarke earlier this month. He hasn't a great deal left at all. Anyone decent will take him out now, though you're right Stu, he's still a survivor generally.

He beat my friend the 2002 commonweatlh games, beat him by a point he took silver craig bronze, craig had an off night and would have beaten him easily any other nite wanted the rematch but smith went pro, sure they may meet again as hes going pro after the worlds... Myself i dont think smiths that good but only time will tell,

Smith seems to be improving nicely, i think he can go far. He has been knocking people out in brutal fashion of late. Smith and Derry Matthews are Liverpool's best pro prospects at the moment for me. His knockout of Steve Timms on a Hatton undercard was quite shocking. the fella went down so hard and was on the floor with his legs bent behind his back in a badly unnatural position. I can see his power getting even better with him being only 22

Yeah but Timms was beating Smith at the time and the punch smith threw was a defence one...Timms took a dive

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Smith is building up a nice record (but beating the usual journeymen) along the way.

He beat a mate of mine in the amateurs. A good friend who knows his stuff rates him really highly. I've seen him twice in the flesh myself and he looks like a handy operator.

Who's your mate, Ian? just curious.

ps, Paul's younger brother, Stephen, is quite handy himself as he's just won the England trials over the weekend at Crystal Palace.

pps, on the subject of the trials, there was some cracking action from some of our best boxers. Particularly outstanding were: Frankie Gavin (light), Nathan Brough (light-welter), Mark Denton (middle) and Gary Sykes (feather)

It only lasted a round mate so i wouldnt say Timms was beating him, looked more a feeling out process for both to me. and that was no dive Smith nearly took his head off and his legs didnt fall in the best position either

Apparently the KO on sat night was equally as brutal. His power is looking frightening.

I've seen him on the TV a couple of times and he has looked impressive.

I remember seeing him a little bit earlier in his career and he took a bit of warming up, his power seems to be improving though as he is now removing these guys in quick time, maybe time to step it up a little. According to his record it is the third time he has fought Howard Clarke but the first time he has stopped him, the other fights both went to four round points decisions.

Neri1983 wrote:It only lasted a round mate so i wouldnt say Timms was beating him, looked more a feeling out process for both to me. and that was no dive Smith nearly took his head off and his legs didnt fall in the best position either

I didnt c it so i cant comment but my trainer Errol Johnson was in Timm's corner and was bemussed as he and others told me Timms was cathing Smith with a lot of shots and Smith didnt know what to do until that left hook

Smith was an accomplished amatuer who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He treains at Ricky Hatton's pheonix camp and will go a long way in the pros. He also beat Martin Concepcion in an ABA final. A domestic title beckons in 2005.

I dont agree with Mr Johnson sorry. There was nothing to worry about coming from Timms until the knockout