Groves only entered the ring v Smith for a final bag of PPV Loot - he suffered a career ending injury in the semi v Eubanks and done a Darren Barker/Toe Haye conning the boxing fans.
I think that was a bit of an excuse. Groves punches were firing fine during the fight. He got beat because Smith caught and countered. and finished him, nothing to do with his shoulder.
Groves made no excuses but it was clear he was finished hence the serious delays with the scheduling of the final. No bag of PPV Loot and he would have retired after the semi - he had nothing left to offer after that injury.
Its a weird one this. Ryder gave us the blueprint on how to get joy against Smith and did win. Obviously Canelo is levels above Ryder but I can’t see him fighting at all like that. This makes me think Smith could win this on jabbing and countering. He’ll probably be about 14 stone on the night if Canelo doesn’t get his way. At least one of Smith’s shots will hurt regardless of a rehydration clause and one thing Smith is, is a very good finisher. Canelo’s movement will give Smith trouble and he’ll have to jab a lot and be quick with it or Canelo will slip, roll and finish him to the body like he did to Liam. My early prediction is Callum gets revenge in round 6!
To win Callum is going to have to stop him. I don’t think he can sit on the end of the jab all night and hope for success on the cards. He needs to take it to Canelo and really use his size and power and try and take him out whilst somehow avoiding the inevitable crushing body shot.
In what way did it impact him during the fight as he was throwing punches normally. When fighters are finished with shoulder injuries like Haye, they comeback and cant throw straight punches, always a loop to them that was not there before. Was non of that with Groves. He boxed well, just a fully motivated Smith was better.
True, I think in reality he needs to mix it up. At times when Canelo is wanting a breather, he needs to push him back and out it on him. At other times just move to outside and use jab.
I disagree, I just think he's been able to look better then he is as he has legit power. Whenever he's come up against a decent boxer or someone who can take his power, it's evident he runs out of ideas and is set in one mould if you like. I commented on this quite some time ago. I think he has a chance against Canelo, because he's really overated now. He should have about 4-5 losses now and all the rehydration rubbish etc. Really Smith should be able to do what Kovalev was doing. SMW is super weak, the best fighter Smith has still faced is Groves.
I agree, as Moog says put it on him when he wants a breather and take every opportunity to counter. Proper hurtful counters though, but then as you say, that puts you in danger with a long torso against him.
I agree division is weak. You are right Kovalev was winning well until he was shattered and got stopped. Unlike Kovalev, who was passed it, Smith is in his prime.
Don't get me wrong as well Moog, I think this is a fight he can win. Callum has had most success against fighters who open up and who he can counter. The fighters who haven't are the ones he's struggled with, Ryder was able to take away his catch and counter left hook for the most part and Callum landed very few fast left hooks to the body in that fight, when he does throw them they look strong though.
Young CHRIS was spamming his insta feed with photos of Groves’s arm and shoulder in his trophy cabinet, long before the WBSS final.
That was the worst Groves performance I have seen and his power (which was never great) looked to have evaporated.
