Canelo showed a superb performance but smith fought in one of the most stupid ways he could fight. He crouched so extremely the height difference looked like kova vs canelo, despite smith being 3 inches taller then kovalev. I dont know why all those tall guys play into canelos cards. Make yourself tall, dance and just try to throw as many jabs as possible. It doesnt have to work, but i wonder why nobody is trying it.
its really hard to keep canelo from closing the distance, every wasted punch or move meant smith was getting punished, thats why he fought extra cautious.
He didn’t jab to the head because they figured he would be countered off the jab. He should have been more active and thrown more combinations as when he did it kept Canelo occupied. Stopped Canelo from launching his own attacks, even though none of it landed. He only did that for one round of the fight So retrospectively, Smith had he thrown in combinations and stood his ground more it would have been a closer fight. But he still would have lost as Canelo’s defence was impregnable.
There's a thing called parrying and cutting off the ring, and countering. Canelo does all extremely well. Also standing 'tall' reduces your range vs a a shorter figher anyway, as your arms are angling downwards and it can feel rather awkward. Better would to adopt a fury-like footwork, on you toes and jab and move. Smith jabbed and stood flat after each shot. If a fat 6'8 guy can do it why can't Smith adpot a similar strategy. SMith showed atrocious timing with the jab, mind you canelo's defence mtigated all those jabs.
Smith lost the psychological battle with Canelo in the first round. He was too eager to be on the back foot, and then he didn’t use his size advantage.
He only had 4 weeks notice to be fair. Caleb Plant was offered the fight on like 7 weeks and still s**t himself. Smith deserves respect for lasting 12.
Gallagher is a great S & C coach but he doesn't have the strategic mind for the elite levels sadly. Respect to the Smith Brothers for being loyal instead of certain grifting gypsy fighters...
Although I don't blame if people get confused with the few Gypsy grifters who have no loyalty involved in boxing currently. Embarrassment to proper gypsy/fighting men.
Loyalty is worth a whole lot more than any currency when it comes to friends and family. But when it comes to a career and tangible benefits to you progressing as a fighter? Naw man, you upgrade and upgrade as much as you can.
Joe Gallagher's game plan was to go for uppercuts and bodyshots.....against a smaller fighter with amazing defence? Why not the jab and right hand? He gave up every asset he has. Gallagher is an awful boxing coach. Why do the Smith brothers feel loyalty to him?
There is an argument to be made for that but in C.Smiths case he has been to world titles and WBSS levels with loyalty? Why change it pre-canelo? Respect to the Smith clan.
Smith is just not good enough. He’s not fast enough, he doesn’t punch hard enough and he doesn’t move fast enough. No gamelan would help him.
