By Edward Chaykovsky
Super middleweight contender Paul Smith (35-5, 20KOs) is not delusional. He knows that his chances of outboxing Andre Ward (27-0, 14KOs) is practically non-existent. Smith challenges Ward on June 20th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. It will be Ward's first fight since November 2013 and it takes place at a catch-weight of 172-pounds. The fight will be televised by BET.
Throwing boxing out the window. Smith is planning to go for one target - Ward's chin. Smith himself possesses a decent chin and went the twelve round distance, twice, with hard-punching WBO champion Arthur Abraham. He took some chances in those fights and he will have to do so again when he faces Ward.
“Every fighter has got two arms and a chin. People are going around and saying all I have got is a puncher's chance but that’s all I need,” Smith told Sky Sports News HQ.
“There is nobody in the world who doesn’t think I am the underdog. That’s how it goes, that’s what’s expected in a fight like this against an opponent like that. I am a massive underdog but again there is no pressure, there’s no pressure whatsoever.
“At the end of the day I’m not going to go in there and try and let him look good, try and outbox him and let him do his stuff. That would be suicide, but Ward can be caught. He’s slicker than Abraham but he’s there to be caught, he leaves himself open sometimes. That’s all I need, a puncher's chance.”