Paul Smith: Andre Ward doesn’t have the power to damage me

ward1111(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports) By Scott Gilfoid: Former two time world title challenger Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) may be hopelessly over-matched in Saturday’s fight against Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs), but Smith rests with the comfort in his mind that Ward doesn’t usually hurt his opponents.

That’s what Smith feels and that’s what Carl Froch believes as well. Well, we’re going to see if Smith is right about that when he gets inside the ring on Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

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Will Andre Ward be the same fighter he once was?

ward434By Allan Fox: After nearly two years of inactivity, WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday night to fight Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) at a catch-weight of 172 pounds at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Ward is 31 now, and he hasn’t fought since 2013 when he beat Edwin Rodriguez by a 12 round unanimous decision. Ward has fought only twice in the past four years since winning the Super Six tournament in 2011.

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Andre Ward: Paul Smith will be hit early and often on Saturday

ward56By Scott Gilfoid: Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) plans on not letting Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) into the fight this Saturday in their catch-weight fight at 172 pounds in Oakland, California. Ward says he’s going to get off to a quick start and not let the 32-year-old Smith get his own game started.

Smith thinks that Ward’s inactivity will hurt him on Saturday night, as Ward hasn’t fought in a year and a half, but Ward feels differently. He’s been working out the entire time, and he’s ready to continue to dominate like he’s done his entire career, including when he was in the amateur ranks.

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Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith this Saturday, June 20th on BET

ward56By Scott Gilfoid: The super middleweight division’s best fighter Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) will be fighting this Saturday night in a fight televised on BET against the serviceable Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Smith won’t be fighting or Ward’s WBA super middleweight title because the fight will take place at a catch-weight of 172 pounds.

There’s little chance that Ward will be beaten in this fight because Smith doesn’t have punching power, and he’s quite slow and not someone that is going to be able to get his shots off fast enough to bother Ward. Smith, 32, is obviously not a great opponent, but Ward needed a body to face for him to get the rust out.

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Paul Smith says he’ll have good game plan for Andre Ward fight

smith7777By 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.

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Paul Smith: Ward can be caught, he leaves himself open

smith342By Scott Gilfoid: Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) has lost his last two fights, and he’s not exactly coming into his non-title fight on June 20th against Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) in the ideal position for their fight at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Smith, 32, is expected to lose and lose big in this fight. The only question is whether he gets knocked out or outpointed. However, Smith doesn’t believe that he has no chance. He’s seen enough of Ward’s fights on video to know that he can be caught from time to time in his fights, and he believes that he’s got a puncher’s chance of winning this fight.

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Paul Smith will need a miracle against Andre Ward

smith455By Scott Gilfoid: If 32-year-old Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) thought he had in bad in his last two fights against WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in his two defeats in those fights, Smith is really up against it with his 172 pound catch-weight fight against Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) on June 20th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Smith has obviously been brought in as a fodder opponent for the 31-year-old Ward to sharpen up before he goes back to defending his WBA 168 pound title. Smith will need to KO Ward to win this fight because there’s no way that Smith will win a decision against someone as talented as Ward. Indeed, I don’t think Smith will win even a round in this fight.

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Andre Ward: This fight is Paul Smith’s Super Bowl

ward765By Scott Gilfoid: WBA Super World super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) is taking his June 20th tune-up opponent Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) very seriously as a threat to his 168lb title rein despite the fact that the 32-year-old British fighter is coming off of consecutive losses to WBO 168lb champ Arthur Abraham.

The Ward-Smith fight will take place at a catch-weight of 172 pounds. The reason for that is because Ward has been out of the ring since 2013. It doesn’t make sense for Ward to drain down all the way to 168 when he’s been out of the ring for almost two years.

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Andre Ward – Paul Smith at 172lb catch-weight on June 20th

ward54By Scott Gilfoid: WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward’s June 20th fight against England’s Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) will be taking place at a catch-weight of 172 pounds, according to boxing news from Boxrec.

Ward hasn’t fought in over a year so it’s quite understandable that he would want the fight to be a few pounds over the 168 pound limit. The fight will only be four pounds over the limit. Ward can still make super middleweight, but you don’t want to push the guy when he hasn’t fought in 17 months since his last fight in November of 2013 against Edwin Rodriguez.

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Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith Jnr – June 20th, Oakland, California

ward333By Johnathon Fell: Andre Ward 27 (14) – 0 is finally set to make his return to the ring vs. British challenger Paul Smith Jnr 35 (20) – 5 in his backyard, Oakland, California. This bout marks a return for Ward following an 18-month period of inactivity through injury, promotional complications and difficulty in finding an opponent.

This return for Ward ticks many boxes, a former World Title challenger, a fighter who brings a broadcaster and a substantial fan base and most importantly, a fighter who he will feel he can look good against and control for 12 rounds, if he desires.

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