By Scott Gilfoid: Britain’s Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) says his trainer Joe Gallagher has a good game plan for his upcoming fight in 10 days from now on June 20th on BET against WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) in their catch-weight fight at 172 pounds at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Smith, 32, sees flaws in Ward’s game that he and his trainer Gallagher will be trying to exploit on 6/20.
Just what those flaws are is the big question. Ward is the superior fighter in close and on the outside. I would venture to guess that Smith will be looking to fight Ward on the outside if he can, because if the American talent takes the fight to the inside, Smith has no chance.
Smith’s not nearly as skilled as the 6-foot Ward at close range, and it could turn into an embarrassing route with Ward clowning Smith until stopping him at some point.
“There’s going to be a good game plan from Joe (Gallagher – trainer) and I trust him, whatever he does,” Smith said to Fighthype. “We’ve been working on a lot of things, shots – a lot of things that Andre Ward does correctly and wrongly. I’ve watched the best of the fights and the worst of the fights – but that’s down to Joe.”
I don’t think Smith has a chance even with the most perfect game plan. I mean, there are ways to fight Ward that will increase your chance of winning, such as not letting him crowd you, but I don’t think Smith has the mobility to keep Ward from taking the fight to the inside. It takes fast feet to keep a talent like Ward from getting in close, and the only guy I think who could do that is Andre Dirrell.
Smith is too slow and sluggish on his feet to keep Ward from taking the fight to the inside and left hooking him into oblivion. I think that’s what’s going to happen. Ward is going to crowd Smith like James DeGale did five years ago, and stop him in short order before Smith has even got his offense out of 1st gear.
“I’ve got to try and not let him be at his best and not let him do the stuff that he does well,” Smith said. I know he’s a strong fighter and I know he’s quality and I’ve got to try and not let him negate what I do.”
That would be the day that a fighter in the class of Smith is able to negate Ward’s offense. I just don’t see it. There’s really nothing Smith can do. About the only thing I think Smith can do is stay in there for the full 12 rounds, trying not to get hit, and hope and pray that Ward suffers an injury or gets tired.
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