With the new season just around the corner, Gallagher told LF that he is aiming for the 168lb British champ to have a quick defence enabling outright possession of the title before aiming for the ultimate prize. Realistically, Gallagher knows that the likes of Carl Froch and Andre Ward are way out of the picture but there is another of the world champions who he firmly believes is not. Id put him in with [Robert] Stieglitz for the WBO, he declared. If Stieglitz wants a voluntary he doesnt have far to look in Paul Smith. If that fight was made, because of their styles of fighting, for however long it lasted, Paul would give a great account of himself. And Paul, with his style and the way he is now, being on a high hes got the punch to rip that title away from him. You cannot rule Paul Smith winning that world title against Stieglitz. If Stieglitz wants a payday, if they wanted to gauge the likes of James DeGale and George Groves then Paul Smith is there. Paul would give him a really good fight but he has to work himself into that position. He would snap their hands off for it though. Weve talked about and I had Paul study Stieglitz last fight and the fight before that as well for the Dodson fight. So Pauls watched him and if we got the call then were on that plane to wherever it is and hed take that fight with both hands. The rest of this interview can be read here http://bit.ly/16r7Q7r
Paul's lost decisively when he's fought guys at fringe World level so can't see how he could beat Stieglitz!
Beating a shot Tony Dodson shouldnt pave the way for a world title shot! Kenny Anderson would have much more of a chance of beating Steiglitz then Paul Smith, they are just looking for one final payday before Smith hangs up the gloves.
This is the sort of gamble that in hindsight will look brilliant should it pay off - but it probably won't, and will probably be seen as squandering the nice form he showed in the Dodson rematch (and perhaps making a domestic run with reasonable expectations) to simply cash out ASAP.
Think I'm one of the few that likes Smith on this forum, but would be with the general consensus that it would be a big step to far for him. I'd like to see him build on his domestic win over Dodson, claim the Lonsdale belt outright and push on with his career. What is he now, 30/31? That said, if a world title shot comes calling.. you would expect him to grab it with both hands, it'd be what he dreamed as of a kid. And you know what, if he came up short then so what, nobody expected any different and he can say he fought for a world title.
Joe's obviously smoking crack. He basically ruined Murray putting him against Rios. If he had any morals he would keep Smith as far away as possible. How desperate can u be to have a world champ to put fighter after fighter in danger. Blokes a disgrace.
To be fair it's every fighters dream to fight for a world title but it's also a coaches job to keep there fighter safe. without a doubt Paul would fight the guy in a heartbeat he's a fighter,nobody would need to tell him how hard it would be but it wouldn't shock me completly if he won.
