I don't think AJ will be around in five years. I envisage two or three Ruiz 1 beatings/KO's before he realises his money is better to him healthy than severely injured.
You heard it here 2nd mate - this man @lencoreastside seen through the plank years ago. Heading for a nasty fall
Callum Smith had one bad night against Ryder, I wouldn't be writing him off just yet. I think he is struggling at the weight and needs to move up to light heavyweight. Most times I've seen him fight he's looked very impressive, every fighter has an off night.
Just because he looked pretty impressive against Groves before that ill give him benefit of doubt and just say maybe he looked through and underestimated Ryder. Though guy 6,3 been at SMW for a decade now (roughly) and fighting every 9 months ? Eventually he has to move up.
Alfie Moon & Optimus Grime: Callum Smith has always been ridiculously overrated. He just isn’t that good. He really can’t box well at all. Been blessed with freakish size at 168 and admitteddoes hit hard. But very limited. No shame in that. It’s just the truth. Sorry .....Timmmmbeeeerrrrr! Crash!
Well I totally disagree with you. Go watch his performance destroying George Groves, and his one round destructions of Rocky Fielding and Hadililah Mohoumadi, and the Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam fight. He's been impressive far more times than he's been unimpressive put it that way.
Honestly can't believe he makes 12st,he would be a huge light heavy aswell..got to be taking some kind of physical toll on him.
Gonna have to say, yh beat grove's but grove's looked liked he had been sedatied in that fight. Didn't even bother throwing out his jab. Never seen grove's like that before. Rocky Fielding isn't exactly a scalp. Callum isn't a bad fighter but maybe a little hyped
KOs dry up as a general rule as fighters compete at higher levels and against other world class fighter's. Smith doesn't move his head and doesn't have enough variety which is why I think he is overated. Yes his early KOs were impressive but I always go off ability and skill, so I definitely think he's overated.
To be a star you need to have a full or combined package. Ability, being from a partisan city, an allegiance with a football club can help, Ethnicity can play a key part and of course personality. When I say city I mean the likes of London don’t turn out in droves for one of their own, Josh Warrington can draw big crowds in Leeds, Manchester turned out for Crolla, nearly every (matchroom) show in Liverpool is full. Lewis Ritson selling out Newcastle arena. Lee Selby being a world champion but from Barry didn’t have the ability to draw huge crowds. Hatton had the hole of Manchester behind him and of course his Man City links. Calzaghe had a whole country behind him. Haye flew the flag for Great Britain and was going over to Germany and defeating giants, combined obviously with his ability and personality. Khan, Joshua, Fury all have their ethnicity which helps them and draws huge crowds. Bellew (whether you like it or not) became a star (selling loads of PPV’s) Can’t see Joshua or Fury still fighting in 5 years. Dubois doesn’t really have the personality to be a “star”. He’s got great potential to reach the very top but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Same with Buatsi although he’s got a bit more about him than Dubois (who hasn’t). Joe Cordina got that sort of Calzaghe potential, he’s got a lot of ability, exciting on the eye and you’d hope he could draw huge crowds in Cardiff down the line. You’ve got the Olympics next year and after that I’d expect Pat McCormack to turn pro. He’s got everything, he’s brilliant. McGrail also very good but he’s another who’s a bit quiet and shy.
