Comments Thread For: Callum Smith Overcomes John Ryder With Questionable Scores

[Santa_]

Wow pretty sure this will win robbery of the year.

[Roberto Vasquez]

Haven't seen the fight but have been saying for years that Smith is untested at top level. This fight just proved it. Canelo would eat him for breakfast.

A lot of the hype for Smith came when he fought that guy from a weight division below who he knocked out in a couple of rounds.

[Sweet Scions]

Neither of 'em really do what Ryder does though... Canelo is closer in stature and (slightly) style but he hasn't got John's workrate even if he is more highly skilled and a much better counterpuncher. And BJS might look great against a jabless bullrusher like Lemieux or an in your face pitbull like Ryder himself, but I ain't sure that would translate well against a long dude with a solid jab like Mundo.. we've seen Saunders struggle with far lesser fighters. Ryder was able to neutralise Mundo's best assets - his length and jab - by unrelentingly bulling his way under and inside, but that ain't BJSs style at all.

Right on the money

[Sweet Scions]

I think you misunderstood what I said.
I wrote that Smith got a gift of a decision, no doubt.
However, that's different from being 'exposed'.
There are many factors that may have contributed to Smith's poor night at the office.
I just don't believe that a loss (or dubious win in this case) means that fighter is 'exposed'.
All of the best fighters have suffered losses or had the benefit of dubious desions... it's the terminology I have an issue with.

I didn't misunderstand you, I'm in agreement with everything you said. I usually don't signpost my sarcasm and sometimes it doesn't work out.

[harry-greb]

Shocking decision. Had it 116-112 for Ryder

[QueensburyRules]

Wow pretty sure this will win robbery of the year.

- -U Dunce of the Decade more likely.

DOD VS ROY!!!

[Clegg]

Neither of 'em really do what Ryder does though... Canelo is closer in stature and (slightly) style but he hasn't got John's workrate even if he is more highly skilled and a much better counterpuncher. And BJS might look great against a jabless bullrusher like Lemieux or an in your face pitbull like Ryder himself, but I ain't sure that would translate well against a long dude with a solid jab like Mundo.. we've seen Saunders struggle with far lesser fighters. Ryder was able to neutralise Mundo's best assets - his length and jab - by unrelentingly bulling his way under and inside, but that ain't BJSs style at all.

Agreed that BJS and Canelo fight differently to Ryder but both will probably have a lot more ideas on how they'd beat Smith after watching that. With Smith's length, it means Canelo and BJS kinda have to step to him, they won't bullrush and pin him on the ropes but some of Ryder's work was about working up close and then taking a step back as Smith loaded up on big shots. He had Smith swinging at air a lot, and I feel like Canelo and BJS would do the same thing, only they'd take just a half-step back, use upper body movement, and be better placed to land counters than Ryder was.

It was a long time ago and Andy Lee was a lot smaller than Smith, but the way BJS kept things mostly cagey (and boring) on the outside but then timed his attacks every now and then to land something eye catching and win the round was somewhat similar to what he'd try to do vs Smith if he's in-form. Which is a big if with how he's looked recently. Undecided on how much Smith can land that jab vs BJS southpaw angles also.

Never like to rush to judgement, especially after a career-worst performance. Smith has never looked that bad before. But he did show a lot of flaws and didn't adapt at all, the flow of the fight just continued more and more in Ryder's favour as it went on. But if we say he's not as bad as he looked at the weekend, it's also probably true that he's not quite as good as he looked vs Groves.

Smith did put in effort, he was tired but kept trying, but one flaw on the mental side of things is the same as all Joe Gallagher fighters, he lacks high level boxing IQ and a plan B. I don't count him out against the other champs but that's because all 4 of them have room to improve. Smith is the guy I'd most like to see switch trainers though

[Citizen Koba]

Agreed that BJS and Canelo fight differently to Ryder but both will probably have a lot more ideas on how they'd beat Smith after watching that. With Smith's length, it means Canelo and BJS kinda have to step to him, they won't bullrush and pin him on the ropes but some of Ryder's work was about working up close and then taking a step back as Smith loaded up on big shots. He had Smith swinging at air a lot, and I feel like Canelo and BJS would do the same thing, only they'd take just a half-step back, use upper body movement, and be better placed to land counters than Ryder was.

It was a long time ago and Andy Lee was a lot smaller than Smith, but the way BJS kept things mostly cagey (and boring) on the outside but then timed his attacks every now and then to land something eye catching and win the round was somewhat similar to what he'd try to do vs Smith if he's in-form. Which is a big if with how he's looked recently. Undecided on how much Smith can land that jab vs BJS southpaw angles also.

Never like to rush to judgement, especially after a career-worst performance. Smith has never looked that bad before. But he did show a lot of flaws and didn't adapt at all, the flow of the fight just continued more and more in Ryder's favour as it went on. But if we say he's not as bad as he looked at the weekend, it's also probably true that he's not quite as good as he looked vs Groves.

Smith did put in effort, he was tired but kept trying, but one flaw on the mental side of things is the same as all Joe Gallagher fighters, he lacks high level boxing IQ and a plan B. I don't count him out against the other champs but that's because all 4 of them have room to improve. Smith is the guy I'd most like to see switch trainers though

Ha, actually that's not a bad comparison, and not a bad breakdown. I wasn't saying that either of 'em wouldn't beat Mundo, more that they just brought different things to Ryder, so the kinda triangleish - 'they're better than John so they automatically beat hell outta Mundo' ain't necessarily the case. And yeah, I can defo see some Andy Lee in Callum, certainly in his length (and Andy ain't really that much shorter than Callum) and his manner of fighting tall.

Funny enough I was at the Arena for BJS vs Lee... the current Ms Koba and I were courting at the time and she bought tickets as an early Xmas present. Unsurprisingly she wasn't really blown away with the fight... in fact I seriously doubt I'll ever convince her to go to another boxing match again. Ever.