Callum Smith is Underrated, James Degale is Overrated

DeGale lost a razor close fight to Groves, a decision which could have easily gone to him, indeed many people thought he deserved it.

While I like Smith, he hasn't fought anyone as good as Groves or Dirrell in fact I'd favour them both to beat him at this stage.

 

I didn't think DeGale was even rated that highly. He's just another title holder along with Jack, AA and Chudinov, he has yet to really prove he's anything beyond that.

I do like Smith though. I like a tall fighter who know how to use their height but he has a lot to prove, he's not beaten anyone of note to be regarded as better than DeGale.

 

Wrong and wrong. Next

 

DeGale is massively underrated just because people don't like him, hes number 1 SMW at the minute.

 

Had DeGale fought Bute and Dirrel at a different time I'd agree with you. But Bute was cobra'ed, hasn't beaten a decent fighter since and lost to Pascal. Dirrell had done nothing of note in years and been inactive, there were big questions as to if he was anywhere near the same fighter that fought Froch or AA.

DeGale is definitely one of the top fighters in the division but he's still got a lot to prove before anyone can confidently say he's the divisions number 1 fighter. Remember when Kessler was regarded as the favourite in the Super 6, he then ran into Ward. Looking the part isn't as good as proving it.

 

Agenda spotted try harder next time *******.

 

You make some fair points but just for arguments sake I'll make a few comments regarding Dirrell and Bute and why they may not have been much, if at all worse than the versions who fought Froch etc.

I think both guys are unlikely to have deteriorated much physically because both were still a very good age when they fought deGale and had been training and fighting recently.

Their talent wouldn't have just disappeared so the main problems would have been mental and both guys seemed mentally fine in the deGale fight.

They could have both actually been in a better place mentally vs deGale as both guys were older and more experienced by that time.

This seems to be the case for Dirrell in particular. The old Dirrell's main weakness was courage/heart. The older version of Dirrell seems to be a bit better in this area, not worse.

Even with Bute people said he was over awed by the occasion and intimidated by the crowd and fighting in his opponent's back yard against Froch whereas against deGale he looked like he had gotten his confidence back and was at home with the crowd on his side.

 

Callum is a year away from beating Degale, he will but not yet

 

Uhhh.... Smith had a massive amount of hype on the way up, it wasn't until several lackluster performances that some of the hardcore write him off.

 

Sorry guy, I like Groves but hes not exactly elite.

 

Clear #1 after Jack moved up, Ward moved up, Degale got soft, and the new blood in the division are waiting for this tournament to be over to take over the division. He's ruling between eras.

Lay off the caps by the way. Makes you seem desperate.

 

Smith will become the new Jones, trust me.