Ton Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) The final of the World Boxing Super Series for the super middleweights takes place this Friday in Saudi Arabia. George Groves vs Callum Smith, who wins?? The bookmakers can't split them and surprisingly, for me anyway, they have Groves the narrow favourite. I suppose there is logic in that Groves has been in with big names and has that big occasion experience, whereas for Smith this is quite a step up. Whilst for many people he has looked like a potential king of a division which is begining to stagnate. Chirs Eubank jr also features following his loss to Groves in the semi finals as he embarks on once again ressurecting his career. Just read this feature on him on the Daily Mail website, and it's pretty clear why this lad won't be remembered in the long term. He never seemed too fussed about his losses, and look at the lifestyle he is able to lead despite falling short at the top level. Is there any wonder he won't make it? :whistle: Chris Eubank Jnr vows to prove his critics wrong in boxing comeback | Daily Mail Online So your thoughts on the fights, what could a win or loss lead to for both Groves and Smith, and is anyone even remotely arsed about Chris Eubank Jr anymore? Edited September 29, 2018 by LondonRingRules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return --- I'd watch Jr just to see Daddy strutting and preening in the ring like the King of England! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Hugger Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return If Groves has fully recovered from injury, I'd lean towards him winning. I don't think Eubank should retire, he is still good enough to come back from the loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_budweiser Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return If Groves has fully recovered from injury, I'd lean towards him winning. I don't think Eubank should retire, he is still good enough to come back from the loss. I'm the same. I see Groves winning the fight, I think he's been in with the better opposition which will help him against Smith. Eubank's problem is his ego and not being able to adapt in a fight when things aren't going his way. It was clear his tactics weren't working against Groves, but nothing changed in the 12 rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton Posted September 25, 2018 Author Share Posted September 25, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return --- I'd watch Jr just to see Daddy strutting and preening in the ring like the King of England! Some people just love self torture, Bobby!! With regards to Eubank Jr I actually read the article AFTER I had seen the images, headline and posted it here..... He actually talks like he means business and loves the game and wants to fight the best and be the best. But I still can't see how him already earning his lavish lifestyle, mansion and Bentley and all, where's his motivation to keep at it? So what if he loses again. He's still got his mansion and Bentley and millions in the bank. I'm still split on Groves / Smith :noidea: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robprosser Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Well, that happened almost without me realising. Just watched the end. Groves certainly suffered from keeping his hands low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return --- Not interested in the now weakened supermiddle div, but in a tough fight mostly favoring Smith, Groves finally took a ten count. Callum Smith beats George Groves via seventh-round knockout to win WBA world title Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Smith won as I knew he would, but I only dreamed he'd get a KO. I thought he'd play it safe and cruise to a wide decision. That counter left was sweet. And really fast, both hand speed and reaction time. The guy is definitely for real. What most impressed me was Smith's patience. I thought Groves might get him off-balance and agitated, but nope. Another impressive thing was the basic game plan. Smith wisely didn't throw a lot of hooks, which (along with his great posture) kept Groves from landing that big right hand of his. He only let it go when very safe, and almost always with serious results. Kudos to his trainer as well. What a team. Now bring on Benavidez ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Hugger Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return What a dick Eubank Jr is. I know he acts arrogant, but at least show a bit of sportsmanship. If the other guy retires with a shoulder injury, even if you don't believe him, give him the benefit of the doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return ^ Yep. Esp the "dick" part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repsac Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Anyone else take some issue with that last punch landing on the back of Groves head while his knee is down? Is it just me, or does this thing seem to happen way too often lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 (edited) Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Yeah, it was definitely questionable, I can understand folks wanting to discuss it, but I'm not sure Groves was all the way down. Certainly, it would have been hard for Smith to know for sure. I looks to me like George bent way over at the waste, & both knees were bent but not on the canvas. He was slowly lowering his left glove to the canvas, JUST about to touch, as Smith let the last punch go. Groves hand touched before that punch LANDED, but not before Smith initiated it. I've always felt that in those situations, when it's not absolutely clear, the other fighter should keep on fighting until the ref says something. That's because sometimes a fighter who's in trouble will duck way down to avoid punishment. This is illegal and should always get a warning / deduction, but that rarely happens. Remember Kovalev - Cleverly, and that controversial hit? Well, Cleverly had been ducking below Sergey' belt line the whole fight, (WAY below) and the ref did nothing. So of course, when he finally did go to a knee, Sergey let loose on him. Either as payback, or because he really didn't know, but either way it was Cleverly's own fault. And the ref's. So... Smith in the heat of battle should just back off, when Groves didn't appear to be COMPLETELY down? Nah, I have no problem with that hit. Esp since Smith does not have a history of dirty tactics. Rant over. :haha: Edited October 2, 2018 by Cableaddict Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return --- Grove fans to claim conspiracy with groves demanding rematch, aka Froch I... Lucrative trilogies lurking everywhere, all hail to pending lucre! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repsac Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Ok, maybe the knee being down might be questionable. But there's no doubt the punch lands behind his head, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selij Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Ref's are caned for stepping in too early, and caned for stepping in too late. Impossible as a human to incercept at the optimal moment 100% of the time because of the speed of the action. Its illegal to duck below your opponents waistband 'you must present the scoring area to your opponent at all times'. Groves at fault. Similarly 'you cannot land punches outside the scoring area' so Smith is also at fault. Rarely gets enforced especially if someone is getting filled-in. Whitaker ducked below the waistline every fight and it was called a 'great defense' - with an 's' by the Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Ok, maybe the knee being down might be questionable. But there's no doubt the punch lands behind his head, correct? That one bothers me a tad, but I think it's again a question of what position Groves was in when Smith INITIATED that last punch. I'm pretty sure Smith was aiming for the temple. (At least that was probably his intention.) Also, of course, heat of the battle..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repsac Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Ref's are caned for stepping in too early, and caned for stepping in too late. Impossible as a human to incercept at the optimal moment 100% of the time because of the speed of the action. Its illegal to duck below your opponents waistband 'you must present the scoring area to your opponent at all times'. Groves at fault. Similarly 'you cannot land punches outside the scoring area' so Smith is also at fault. Rarely gets enforced especially if someone is getting filled-in. Whitaker ducked below the waistline every fight and it was called a 'great defense' - with an 's' by the Americans. Too Sharp Johnson did that often as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 Re: Groves vs Smith + Eubank Jr return Anyone else take some issue with that last punch landing on the back of Groves head while his knee is down? Is it just me, or does this thing seem to happen way too often lately? Ok, maybe the knee being down might be questionable. But there's no doubt the punch lands behind his head, correct? Ref's are caned for stepping in too early, and caned for stepping in too late. Impossible as a human to incercept at the optimal moment 100% of the time because of the speed of the action. Its illegal to duck below your opponents waistband 'you must present the scoring area to your opponent at all times'. Groves at fault. Similarly 'you cannot land punches outside the scoring area' so Smith is also at fault. Rarely gets enforced especially if someone is getting filled-in. Whitaker ducked below the waistline every fight and it was called a 'great defense' - with an 's' by the Americans. Happens all the time and is a big annoyance for me, but I kind of "get" that they are in the heat of battle, and maybe it's that nasty streak within them that is needed for them to become successful in this brutal sport. To me, MOST if not all of these late blows are thrown and landed when it is clear the opponent is down, going down, taken a knee or whatever and the boxer lacks the discipline and well, the empathy to hold back from delivering another blow. There are notable expections. I recall Manny Pacquiao whilst delivering a textbook beatdown on someone (without them actually going down) stepping back and looking to the ref to step in and stop it, only for the ref to do nothing and allow the beating to continue. And there are other occassions where the boxer is set to throw the next shot but see's their man is going and so holds back. I have a MAJOR problem with the ones who sull bloodely swing with all their might, it could actually be classed as attempted murder at times.... Also agree with Seli that ref's have it hard!! They get pulled up and slaughter for things at either end of the spectrum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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