Degale: I can't see where Smith gets his confidence from''

It's a valid point and tells me all I need to know about the relative level of groves and degale respectively. Smith beats both right now, not saying more experience we get the same result though

 

That Groves comparison didn't even make any sense. Groves beating Kenny Anderson...I really don't see how that tells us anything about James DeGale. Thats a pretty wild leap in logic right there.

 

So how do you see these fights going...

Smith vs Kenny Anderson?? and DeGale vs Kenny Anderson??

Logic makes no sense at all mate..

 

I like to study mental attributes of fighters, now i know there's a big flaw with that, because i'm not spending time with them and getting to know them personally and all i've got to go on is their habits in the ring and interviews, but i think i'm right more times then i'm wrong.

James DeGale is at that vain stage of a fighters career when he cares about how he looks and what people percieve him to be. Because of that i think this is the time when he's most susceptible to being frustrated and flustered. Paul Smith must play on this.

Some fighters like Tony Bellew you frustrate by giving them a lot of lateral movement and making them miss. With someone like Degale you get him flustered by cutting his numbers in terms of punches thrown and getting him anxious and impatient. For this reason and seeing as Degale is the more talented, Smith has to force himself on the inside and make it an ugly spectacle, not necessarily a brawl, but a mauling slow type of fight. Being on the inside negates the superior athleticism, which James holds, it forces your opponent to square up more and requires a lot more strength...this is where Degale's inexperience will show, this is where if he has any type of defecit in terms of not yet being comfortable, it'll be found out. Being astute on the inside is the last thing young fighters like Degale, coming out of this amatuer system will learn. Paul has to go in with a mindset of trying to make it look like a man against a boy physically.

Paul Smith must make it seem like he's fighting his fight and Degale is the one who has to change things up. Put mental pressure on him and that doesn't have to be done with stalking or throwing punches. He needs to cut Degale's output, so if James throws say 60 punches a round he needs to cut it to 40. This will disrupt Degale's rhythm and to me he's a rhythm fighter, if it's a stinker of a fight then so what.

Paul has to beat him with a harder type of attitude and mindset. Stay exclusively on the inside and be on him like seaweed and take the play away from him, remember he doesn't have to be punching to put pressure on him and get him flustered. When he gets on the inside, hold Degale's arm and rabbit punch him, hit him low when he's coming in but do it in combinations, hit and hold with sneaky uppercuts and if you're at a point when Degale is complaining to the ref then know your tactics are working.

 

Totally Agree with you Slip.

DeGale as you say care's about how he looks. Mentally how will he feel if Smith maul's his work and makes him look scruffy and takes away the rhythm. He's had it all his own way in his 8 fights. How will he deal with fact someone's all over him and landing on him. DeGale's in that Mayweather mindset which a lot of young guys go through where there more worried about no getting hit and making guys miss and looking good then fighting the fight at hand. As you say Smith has to take the chance to get on him.

I watched DeGale-Dilks again and i can see DeGale getting deducted points and having warnings for things like grabbing and turning opponent around neck. He did this numerous times against Dilks in a round fight. He just threw a few shots, looked to get away and would grab Dilks and turn him around.

I do have my worries about this fight as a DeGale fan, boys very talented but it's one of those fights where you wouldn't be shocked if it goes horribly wrong for James or he just looks on another level and shows his development in unforgettable style.

Intriguing fight that's for sure.

 

Boxing int logical though is it. Many results go against all reason sometimes. I've never believed in a beat b so should beat c. Btw, I see degale beating kenny more emphatically than groves, and smith winning against Anderson.
End of the day people want to call me out to get me to say I don't believe in smith. It ain't gonna happen. I just don't see what the fuss is about with degale. He has some skills, bit he ain't slicker than your average

 

I'm not one of them, I can see you clearly back Smith and good luck to you mate. You stick to your guns, i just found that logic a bit weird that's all.

Can Smith beat DeGale...course he can. Will he...i'm not to sure...I think Chunky will do it. But Smith's got the best chance a domestic level fighter will ever have to beat Chunky.

DeGale is talented lad, the slaps annoy me but hey Calzaghe did it and he's one of our greatest fighters. His style worries me but that's a lot to do with what Slip said about looking good. He's really looked a level above his opponents. Saturday he will be tested by Smith no doubt this won't be a blowout. But i think he's just a better athlete, boxer and has a few things that will cause problems to ''Smigga''.

 

I agree slip, DeGale really cares about how he's perceived in the ring. You could tell by how hurt he was by the criticism in his first fight, and in every interview he has. He comes across as somebody desperate to impress. There is nothing wrong with that though, I prefer that to somebody thats won a gold medal and thinks he's already made it that for that reason.

Smith can only frustrate DeGale if DeGale allows him to. DeGale has to realize he does not need to be walking Smith down constantly as he does against lesser opponents. There is no rush here, he's got 12 rounds against a better opponent. Walking him down only gives Smith a chance to maul and wrestle and try to frustrate him and use his only attributes in this fight which is his experience. If DeGale gives himself a bit of space Smith is not going to be able to live with the athleticism and variety James has.

IMO even if everything goes as well as expected for Smith and he does frustrate James a bit I still struggle to see him really winning because he doesn't work a lot on the inside. He just mauls and then throws a few punches as his opponent comes in and then mauls again.

 

I get ya mate, and like you say we are all entitled to our opinion. I will be the first to say well done if degale wins.
I get why people think he win this fight, hand speed superior boxing skills etc. It's just too much for him right now IMO. Bring on Saturday!

 

You're both right fellas. James holds all the important aces (apart from the experience) and i think he'll win this fight, Smith's only hope really is to try and make Degale look "bad". There's not much wrong with a young fighter wanting to impress, but sometimes it can work against them and they can be easier to frustrate. Even if Smith has the perfect gameplan, 1. can he apply it effectively? (don't think he has the tools) and 2. he's still relying on Degale to play ball, be a sucker and react in a negative manner. It's James' fight to lose and i don't think he will.

 

Yeah agree with you as ever Slip.

I fancy James to win via stoppage late on. I can see cuts becoming the downfall of Smith. Once he starts bleeding he will be on borrowed time. And i can't see his skin holding up.

 

DeGale will win this easily in my opinion. I'm not even worried about it, I don't see anything that Smith has to win this fight. I think people will be shocked by how strong DeGale is, how well he can take a punch and how Smith will tire far more than James. The things people aren't certain about, he'll prove in this fight.

Whether its a showcase for DeGale, a messy fight, a points win or a stoppage I see it being by a large margin for DeGale.

 

I agree TFFP, I seen DeGale in flesh..he's a athlete couldn't believe how tall and physically built he was. As you say Smith doesn't bring much other then mauling really, I know DeGale likes a fight as well. Heard he loved gym wars in his younger days. He be ready just hope he keeps head and puts on a show.

My only worry really is the pulling of the neck to turn his man and Smith mauling and James falling into it...but just thinking about it...DeGale doesn't really have that much to fear inside or at mid to long range. Never been taken by Smith's work.

 

'I'm bigger than him'.:rofl Smith mate...you can't lie about things we can see with our eyes.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxnE2-dA_sI&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

he also thinks he will employ Tyson like fear into DeGale at Weigh In...he's ****ing deluded.