WBA World super middleweight champion Tyson Zeuge (21-0-1, 11 KOs) won a 12 round unanimous decision tonight over #5 WBA Paul Smith (38-7, 22 KOs) at the Rittal Arena in Wetzlar, Hessen, Germany. Smith gave it his best shot, but he lacked the technical skills overcome the 25-year-old Zeuge, who controlled the fight throughout with his jab. Smith didn’t start attacking until the last 3 rounds when things were looking bleak for him. By that point, Smith needed a knockout, but it wasn’t going to happen.
Paul Smith
Braehmer: Smith is not on the same level as Zeuge
Juergen Braehmer says Paul Smith (38-6, 22 KOs) is not on the same level as Tyron Zeuge (20-0-1, 11 KOs) and is confident his protégé will defend the WBA World Super Middleweight title on Saturday, June 17 at the Rittal Arena in Wetzlar, Germany.
Braehmer, who guided Zeuge to his World title win over Giovanni De Carolis on November 5 at the MBS Arena in Potsdam, believes we have yet to see the best of the Berlin boxer, and expects him to show his class against his British challenger Smith.
Zeuge vs Smith in Wetzlar – June 17
Gallagher: Smith can emulate Groves’ feel good story
Joe Gallagher says Paul Smith (38-6, 22 KOs) can emulate George Groves’ feel good story by claiming a World title on his third attempt when he challenges Tyron Zeuge (20-0-1, 11 KOs) for the WBA World Super Middleweight strap on Saturday, June 15 at the Rittal Arena in Wetzlar, Germany.
Bellew defeats Makabu; Price and Smith win – results
Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) picked up the WBC cruiserweight title tonight with an easier than expected 3rd round knockout win over Ilunga Makabu (19-2, 18 KOs) at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. Bellew went in the underdog but he showed that the oddsmakers had been wrong in installing the 28-year-old Makabu the favorite.
Bellew took Makabu out in the third round with some hard shots to the head after backing him up against the ropes. Makabu went down hard and was unable to continue.
Paul Smith: Not Ready to Call Time On Career Just Yet
Paul Smith Jr, last seen getting beaten and bloodied against Andre Ward in June, has insisted that he isn’t ready to call it a day just yet.
Smith, who has now recovered from an elbow surgery that he underwent following the catch weight loss to the Oakland fighter, moved to (35-6) with the defeat, and has blamed poor preparation for both his performance on the night as well as coming in overweight on the scales – an offence for which he was fined a considerable sum, only for Ward to return that portion of his purse as a goodwill gesture.
Paul Smith Undecided Over Future After Ward Defeat
Three weeks ago fans witnessed Britain’s Paul Smith getting bloodied and soundly beaten by the returning Andre Ward in California, turning in a valiant effort despite being thoroughly outclassed by one of the world’s best fighters from the opening bell in their catch-weight contest.
It was Smith’s 3rd loss in as many fights, and 6th overall, following back-to-back world title challenges to Germany’s Arthur Abraham, fights that saw Smith come up short on points both times.
Retirement On The Horizon For Paul Smith ?
He was heavily criticized for over-shooting the 172 lb catch-weight limit against Andre Ward last weekend by 4.4 lbs in a fight that from before the first bell, there was only ever one winner – and come the 9th round a bloodied and battered Smith was mercifully halted in what, according to trainer Joe Gallagher, should be the last fight of Paul Smith’s long career.
He said in the Liverpool Echo;
“I’ve told Paul to probably consider retiring now.”
Andre Ward – Paul Smith: Post conversations and observations, Broner facts
By W. White: Last Saturday night, as I observed Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 14KO’s) disassemble Britton Paul Smith (35-6, 20 KO’s) from press row, I had questions. What was the purpose them fighting at a 172lb catch weight? Did Paul Smith purposely coming overweight to give him some sort of advantage? Is this a fight the general boxing public really wanted to see? How would Andre Ward perform given his 19 month absence from the ring? Who could possibly be next after this fight? As the fight progressed and I observed Ward tactfully picking his spots with his jab and sneaking in straight rights through Smith’s guard, I realized it was only a matter of time.
Ward kept Smith in the middle of the ring circling, probing, and striking routinely as Smith surprisingly continued to move forward. By the middle rounds, Smith’s face was flush and beginning to swell. It would seem as if this was just an over-hyped sparring match for Ward to continue to pick a part his opponent and shake of any ring dust. I say dust because there was an apparent lack of rust as Ward seemed sharp, movement wise, defensively and in overall ring generalship.