By Scott Gilfoid: The last thing that WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) wants to see happen this Saturday night on February 21st is his rematch against Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) to go to the cards once again.
Abraham is concerned that if goes to the cards, it’ll potentially give the 32-year-old Smith an opportunity to complain that he was somehow robbed of a decision victory like he did last September after Abraham beat Smith by a fairly large set of scores.
By Scott Gilfoid: After listening to a lot of bellyaching from #4 WBO Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) and his loyal fans about how he was robbed in his previous fight last September, WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) intends to show no mercy on the 32-year-old Smith when he gets him inside the ring this month on February 21st in their rematch at the O2 World Arena, Kreuzberg, in Berlin, Germany.
Some boxing fans feel that the main reason why the soon to be 35-year-old Abraham is giving Smith a rematch is due to him feeling bad about the controversy surrounding their previous fight last year.
By Scott Gilfoid: Paul Smith’s complaining about the results of his loss to WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham last Saturday night in Germany could possibly pay off for the 31-year-old fighter because the World Boxing Organization (WBO) are going to be reviewing the fight to make a determination on whether a rematch should be ordered or if Smith should be made the mandatory challenger.
What Smith and his promoter Eddie Hearn’s gripe is that the scores were too wide in Abraham’s favor. The judges scored it 117-110, 117-111 and 119-109. I don’t think there’s much argument over the fact that Abraham won the fight.
By Scott Gilfoid: Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn says he’ll be appealing to the World Boxing Organization to have his beaten fighter Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) made the mandatory challenger to WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) so that Smith can get an immediate rematch.
Hearn isn’t happy that Smith lost to Abraham by a 12 round unanimous decision by the scores of 117-110, 117-111 and 119-109 last Saturday night at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Hearn thought that it’s a fight that could have done either way, but by much closer scores. Since the scores were too lopsided for Hearn’s liking, he wants a rematch.
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: Well, it looks like Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) is going to need to get in line and wait his turn for another crack at WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) after losing to him by a 12 round unanimous decision last Saturday night at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Abraham said after the fight that he’s more interested in facing the winner of the November 8th fight between Felix Sturm vs. Robert Stieglitz fight at the Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Abraham says he would be interested in fighting Smith a second time under the fight circumstances. What those circumstances are is unclear.
By Scott Gilfoid: WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) put in a workmanlike performance in defeating #5 WBO Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night to retain his WBO title at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The final judges’ scores were 117-111, 117-111 and 118-109.
The 117-111 scores were fair because Smith wasn’t doing enough in each round, and he was getting really nailed by the much stronger Abraham. The fight was one-sided for the most part until the 6th and 7th rounds in which Smith fought well and got the better of Abraham with his body punching and his high work rate.
Abraham came back and dominated the 8th and 9th rounds in landing some heavy right hands. In the 10th, Smith showed new energy in nailing Abraham repeatedly with right hands and left hooks to the body. Abraham controlled the 11th and 12th rounds to cruise to victory.
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: Paul Smith (35-3, 20 KO) believes all he needs to do is get the game plan right for him to defeat WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (40-4, 28 KOs) tonight in their fight at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Smith believes that he can overcome the 34-year-old Abraham’s talent and power advantage simply by having the perfect game plan. The guys that have given Abraham problems in the past were ones with a high workrate, a good job, great stamina, and excellent boxing skills.
Smith, I hate to say it, falls short in pretty much all of those categories. He doesn’t have a high work rate, his stamina isn’t great, his jab is a limp one, and his boxing skills less than remarkable. I’d say that Smith’s chances of beating Abraham are very, very slim event Abraham is clearly the weak link among the champions.
(Credit: Thomas Goos / Lawrence Lustig) By Scott Gilfoid: Trainer Joe Gallagher believes that #5 WBO Paul Smith (35-3, 20 KOs) is going to surprise a lot of boxing fans on Saturday night by going into Germany at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and defeating WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (40-4, 28 KOs) in front of his own fans. Gallagher sees the 31-year-old Smith’s experience and size as being important factors in him beating the 5’9” Abraham.
The 5’11” Smith will have a two inch height advantage over Abraham, but I’m not so sure on whether that’ll mean all that much because Smith tends to crowd his opponents rather than using his reach to fire away on the outside. He reminds me a lot of heavyweight David Price with his habit of not using his reach when punching. Price stands far too close when throwing his punches and that leaves him open for getting nailed by his shorter opponents.
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: #5 WBO Paul Smith (35-3, 20 KOs) will be fighting for a world title for the first time in his 11-year pro career this Saturday night against the big punching WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (40-4, 28 KOs) in what shapes up to be the last chance for the 31-year-old Smith at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
With the fight being in Germany, Smith can pretty much forget about winning a decision. That’s obviously not going to happen. If Smith wants to win this fight, he’s going to have to prove that he can do what other fighters with superior power to him couldn’t do in Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward, Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch, and Edison Miranda.
By Scott Gilfoid: Former WBC Silver light heavyweight strap holder Tony Bellew is giving #5 WBO Paul Smith (35-3, 20 KOs) a good chance of pulling off what would be a huge upset this Saturday night in his title challenge against WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (40-4, 28 KOs) in their fight at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Bellew points to the experience of the 31-year-old Smith as the reason why he’ll do well against Abraham.
Bellew thinks that Smith has a ton of experience, even though he’s actually only fought two recognizable fighters in George Groves and James DeGale. As for the rest of the guys Smith has fought, they’ve been domestic level opposition.