Sometimes the soul requires a release. We crave a need to vent, especially against a sport that has done us wrong on numerous occasions like a jilted lover. We will even knead and contort a situation into something that’s now a direct contrast to our original gripe to such a degree, that we forget the reason we were really upset in the first place. Confusing?
Paul Smith lost against Arthur Abraham Saturday night when attempting to take his WBO Super Middleweight Title, and we are having a hard time accepting it over here in the UK. The fight was competitive, quite close; controversial possibly, but not a robbery.
The UK emotions have become overheated due to the wide one sided boxing lesson Abraham apparently dispensed, unfairly reflected in the score cards and somewhere along the line we have blended the frustration with Smith legitimately losing, with the discrepancies awarded by the judges and then we have decided to adopt a position akin to the following…
“Well f**k it, if they are going to say he lost by such a wide mark, then we are going to say he WON” and here we are the morning after. A lot of confusion, tears and bitterness.
Smith had a steel focus within his eyes, alongside the grinning nonchalance displayed across Abraham’s features. The first and second rounds have Smith throwing a decent jab out there, but not breaking through Abraham’s notorious clamshell guard for the most part.
A positive sign for the UK audience is Smith’s reluctance to be bullied at any point in the fight. When Abraham does tattoo him with some solid clubs, Paul responds in kind, ferociously, but never reckless. Nice technical work from Abraham; an educated jab we have forgotten he can penetrate with, it’s impressive stuff for a champion who can often appear limited.
From the 3rd to the 5th round Abraham is caught with some body work, a concentrated intent directed from Joe Gallagher (Smith’s trainers). An intelligent strategy they are able to reap the rewards from a little later into the fight. However in these said three rounds, it’s Abraham who is throwing the harder looking combinations and clusters of punches. Smith sits a little too far out of range when trying to chip off Abraham with jabs and every time Smith is hit by Abraham, he’s not necessarily hurt, but he is visibly rocked around a bit. Judges like that.
In the 6th round Smith is caught with a massive right but instantly rebuttals, again, never once allowing himself to be bullied. The banked body shots begin to pay dividend. Abraham’s internal cogs are turning a little slower, grinding together a little tighter, and he is decreasing in output and speed. As is evident by the triumphant 7th for Smith. Who is really boxing well, measured range and simply landing the better work? Including a friendly straight jab that snaps Abraham’s head backwards.
Abraham claws himself back in the 8th and the 9th is competitive as well, the fight is a treat for the fans, as the disappointingly biased UK commentary expressed, Smith was more competitive than many had expected. However in my original breakdown video before this fight I had Abraham taking a close decision, in a competitive fight, so not all of us under estimated Smith. He had the levels there, you just had to examine his previous efforts and how he responded in certain situations, not just allow his losses to take prevalence upon your final assessment.
The 10th and 11th rounds Smith makes a great argument, notably the body work, as Smith repeatedly punishes the thuggish Abraham over and over to the midsection, interspersed with some very classy boxing.
Abraham clearly takes the 12th, catching Smith a few times, but never hurting him, albeit perhaps buzzing his senses a little. 115-113 on my card to Abraham, Smith fought out of his skin. He lost the fight though, we shouldn’t let the 117-110, 117-111 or 119-109 score cards taint our enjoyment of a competitive fight, where one of our own fought his heart out with intelligence, a master plan and skill, but couldn’t quite reach the peak.
Even Joe Gallagher in the post fight interview said he had the fight a draw. Sometimes we can almost be as bad as the judges. When I say we, on this occasion, I reference my fellow British brethren. The rest of the boxing world probably had Abraham winning comfortably, such is the manner of these things.
Smith has shown to me that he deserves to be mixing it up at this level, I’d expect Hearn to get him another title shot before 2015 closes, and if the opponent is right, he’ll probably win it. We can hope at the very least! Good man Smigga. On to the next!
© Wingy 2014
www.youtube.com/wingyboxingnews
