Callum Smith has now recieved an offer to fight Billy Joe Saunders on BT Sport PPV

Callum all day.

 

Think the likelihood of this fight happening on BT PPV is pretty slim although it's a natural fight to make and would do wonders for both of their profiles.

Going on both fighters last performances though and career trajectories over the last few years, I definately favour Smith. And I know this going to bore everyone rigid but, how the hell is this a 50/50 split on PPV?

Smith is the winner of the WBSS and the Muhammed Ali trophy and BJS won the Warren Boxing Organisation belt against a Cruiserweight never was in Shefat, a Shefat that chin checked the always elusive Billy Joe.

If BJS gets gut or chin checked by Smith, the result will be somewhat different in spite of BJS obvious toughness. Going on their last performances I favour Smith, Ndam got brutally dispatched whereas Shefat got toyed with and went the full distance. Too many physical advantages in Smiths favour and Smith ain't no Lemieaux, he's a far bigger and better boxer and is just as powerful.

Smith by late stoppage (by body shot most likely) or decision after Smith hurts BJS and puts him back in his shell.

 

Smith is being given to much praise in my opinion because of the super series win

First round beat a average fighter in a war and only got on top in the last few rounds

Semi final beat a replacement who had no chance of beating him

Final fought a clearly injured and shadow of his former self in groves

Now if bjs was in that tournament he would have won it fighting the same opposition but looking like calazghe in the process!!

Smith's last fight he fought a old sparring partner of his who he had beat up numerous times previously.

Smith is improving and does have a huge frame for smw and decent power, however his style is perfect for bjs who I believe is a few levels above.

 

I’m not a fan of BJS but it is definitely a 50/50 split fight. Saunders arguably has a slightly better record than Smith also- the Ali trophy stuff, doesn’t mean that much in reality - it’s not his fault, but Smith only beat a former kickboxer, an average fighter in Skogland, and a clearly still injured Groves.

 

Remember Smith very narrowly beat Skoglund who was very that good and whilst he dominated and clearly beat Nieky Holzken over 12, Holzken is primarily a kick boxer who was quite simply thrown into the deep end at world level after fighting journeymen in boxing only, and Smith never looked close to taking him out.

Then you have Saunders. An iron-chinned slickster. It's a 50-50 fight.

 

Billy Joe hasn't done sheeet the last few years though. Since beating Lemieaux, he's been busted for taking a banned substance and looked less than stellar against Journeyman and not even fringe contenders. Smith at least has some momentum. I also feel that Smith and BJS suffer from the same trait of fighting down to their opponents level and only show up when there's genuinely something at stake.

BJS's lack of dedication and just not fighting enough has always been a worry for me. He's obviously got huge talent and looks absolutely sublime when on form, his bouts with Andy Lee and Lemieux were tremendous displays but, I just think that those performances no longer exist in his arsenal. I'm not saying he's past his best by any stretch but, with all the inactivity and fighting out of his natural weight class, he's stacking the deck against himself fighting Callum.

I could well be wrong, and I often am, I just think that Smith is bigger, fresher, more dedicated and more powerful. If at any point Smith hurts Billy Joe and makes him tentative and over cautious, Smith has the attributes to bully Billy Joe out of the fight.

 

You are part of the problem. These are already premium platforms paid via subscriptions.

 

Think Smith is just far too big. Smith is more a 175lber, and i've always seen BJS as a lazy 154lber

 

If he can score a more lucrative high profile US opponent then no, but otherwise why not? I doubt there's a bigger domestic fight for him.

I'd be surprised if he accepted 50/50 on BT Sport though. A couple of years ago this would've been more than fair but considering how badly BJS career has gone and how well Callum has done I would've expected the balance to be in Callum's favour. May depend on what their alternative options are though.

As for the fight. As others have said above, BJS is a better boxer but CS isn't bad and he'd have a big size advantage at that weight. I'd edge towards him stopping BJS, but it could be a close run thing. If it goes to points you'd have to fancy BJS.

 

I’d say Saunders’ name is probably more well known in the UK than Callum Smith’s. Now that’s probably partly due to his unsavoury antics out of the ring but it doesn’t matter. I really doubt that casual fans outside of Liverpool know who Smith is.

There’s absolutely nothing to suggest that Smith should warrant a larger share of the money in a fight with Saunders. By all accounts Warren and Saunders have offered Smith a 50/50 split. If we hear that ***** Hearn talk on IFL about how Smith should get the lion share then we know who’s ducking who.

 

In a strange way I see this as a bet to nothing for BJS. If he wins well he wins.

If he loses, he is massive at the weight, I am fighting above my actual weight. GGG and Contaminated Meat refused to fight me I had to take a chance and fight a much bigger guy etc. I will retire to middleweight

 

If he wins, that will be huge for his career. The top 3 out of SMW and MW is GGG, Canelo and Smith. It is the biggest fight outside of the big two imo. Will it not also be for the Ring magazine belt?

 

Definitely worth PPV

Good fight, I got smith by KO.

Callum should take the fight, especially if he isn't getting shortchanged too much.

 

Callum is someone who knows how to use his height and range properly and he can counter well both on the front foot and back foot. He can catch and counter well and can go into the trenches when needed. He will manhandle BJS if he tries to go inside and bully Smith.

Explain how BJS is gonna overcome Callum's range? How does BJS deal with that when he boxes on the back foot. Callum can tap him from the outside all day if he chooses. BJS naturally has to close the range and get inside, he ain't picking a 6'3 SMW off on the back foot - he does not have Mayweather level reflexes or foot speed to dart in and out of range like that.

It's a bad fight all around for BJS - he would do well to stay away from Smith. Then again, part of me would like to see him humbled. As good a talent BJS is, he comes across as a right wally sometimes.