Comments Thread For: Callum Smith Outboxes Nieky Holzken, George Groves is Next

[Johnston]

I agree with you, but i also think that Eubank Jr would Knock Out Holzken

Idk about that, holzken was extremely fit, and constantly on the front foot, didn't seem to get hurt even a little. I think it would be some great action and can see euban k edging him on points but chri s doesn't have power

[sportbuddha]

Smith has either regressed or simply wasnt that good to start with

I favour the former coupled with the fact that he doesnt have world class power

He just wasn’t into it and was under soo much pressure to win easily he just focused on safety first, which was probably not a bad idea given how little he probably knew about the opponent. Who knows he might even have been carrying an injury coming in. I think he’ll switch up a level for Groves, I doubt he’s regressed that far.

[lolpz]

If he's that good, why did Cleverly dominate him fighting away in Germany? If he beat him, surely Groves can.
Everyone on here almost universally claims that Cleverly was a paper champ and not world class anyway.
He was actually a decent champion until Kovalev pretty much ruined him.
I know Braehmer blamed an in injury against Cleverly but it looked a lot more like he was being over run and quit on his stool.

Lol Brahmer was winning that fight easy vs Cleverly, he was up on the cards when his corner stopped the fight due to injury.

Plus that was at 175, Brahmer looked like a much stronger fighter at 168 vs Brant.

[Boxing Logic]

If he's that good, why did Cleverly dominate him fighting away in Germany? If he beat him, surely Groves can.
Everyone on here almost universally claims that Cleverly was a paper champ and not world class anyway.
He was actually a decent champion until Kovalev pretty much ruined him.
I know Braehmer blamed an in injury against Cleverly but it looked a lot more like he was being over run and quit on his stool.

Cleverly didnt dominate. He was losing the fight before Braehmer got injured, if I recall. It's another reason why I think some are overrating Badou Jack. They still think Cleverly was a good win.

[kushking]

This fight and the fact that this bum smith will be in the final demonstrate exactly why the wbss is a complete pos disgrace of a tournament ripping off the great Alis legacy

Groves should be able to destroy this novice but he'll likely just get up on points using nothing but jabs & then coast to a pts win like he did vs Eubich jr.

[Hmabshir]

This fight and the fact that this bum smith will be in the final demonstrate exactly why the wbss is a complete pos disgrace of a tournament ripping off the great Alis legacy

Groves should be able to destroy this novice but he'll likely just get up on points using nothing but jabs & then coast to a pts win like he did vs Eubich jr.

Yeah cant believe they had the ali trophy for this. winner of this series proves to be the best amongst bums. few years ago we had the real super six, froch, taylor, abraham, kessler, ward, johnson.... any of those guys would slaughter these bums.

[sportbuddha]

This fight and the fact that this bum smith will be in the final demonstrate exactly why the wbss is a complete pos disgrace of a tournament ripping off the great Alis legacy

Groves should be able to destroy this novice but he'll likely just get up on points using nothing but jabs & then coast to a pts win like he did vs Eubich jr.

We’ll soon find out, but I don’t think Smith is as bad as he looked tonight

[Fabes88]

Expect a different Smith back in UK. People dismiss the psychology of sports. It was a no lose situation for Holz, it was an opportunity of a lifetime and he was in shape to just bring it. For Smith it would have been 4 weeks of not knowing what was happening or preparing for and then travel to Europe, with few travelling fans and then the expectation he should just walk through someone he likely had very little knowledge about. Against Groves it’ll be very different

Yeah I picked smith to win when the tournament was announced and my mind hasn’t changed.

[apollocreed]

Lol Brahmer was winning that fight easy vs Cleverly, he was up on the cards when his corner stopped the fight due to injury.

Plus that was at 175, Brahmer looked like a much stronger fighter at 168 vs Brant.

I haven't watched it since, but I remember it being a case of Cleverly outworking Braehmer with his volume punching high workrate, low power style. Braehmer looked like he just realised he couldn't compete with the punch output and quit to me.
He looked old, and that he was just couldn't keep up with Cleverly, who was very fit, but lacked power.
Maybe the injury was legitimate, but with Braehmer's record of pulling out of fights, it wouldn't be a surprise if he did quit if he felt like the well was empty.

Brant wasn't exactly a strong opponent for Brehmer anyway, so it's not like that win means he would be a cert to win the tournament.

I'm not arguing a particular point here, I just haven't been overly impressed by Braehmer in the fights I've seen. I know he's an awkward southpaw with a powerful left counter, but he's always looked like he wants to fight at a very slow pace to me.
Personally I would make Groves the favourite for that fight. Smith I've never particularly rated anyway.
The only way I could see Braehmer beating Groves is if Groves's suspect chin failed the test of one of Breaehmer's powerful left hands.

[apollocreed]

Did you watch the Cleverly fight?

I'm a Welshman and had some money on Clev to get the win. But he was getting clearly beaten by Braehmer (who was up by two points from all three judges) and would have probably retired on the night had the injury not happened.

A great shame he picked up his virus as i'm sure he would've given Smith a torrid time over 12 round in front of a home German crowd.

Yeah I watched the fight live at the time, but I haven't watched it back since.
I remember Cleverly outworking Braehmer with his volume punching high workrate, he made him look old and that he couldn't keep up with Clev.
Cleverly did the same with Fonfara, Jack and Kovalev, but they all matched him, it didn't look like Braehmer had the energy to me.
Maybe the injury was legitimate, I seem to remember he might have had a scan afterwards to prove it.
With Braehmers's record of pulling out of fights though, it wouldn't be a surprise if he did just realise it wasn't his night and quit.