Smith/Ryder this Saturday

Yep. I used to be indecisive but not anymore.

 

I'm glad Ryder is finally getting his shot and his KO record at SMW recently has been great, however.

He only stopped Nielsen (European level?) Akkawi (sp) was quite poor to be honest and was very green with regards to not holding and Cox hasn't done anything eve near European level or above. The awkward bloke who was undefeated was causing him some issues but again, the way he stopped him was impressive.

Regardless, the manor that he has stopped those opponents, as in the knockouts, have been very impressive. Its clear he carrys solid power at SMW now and he's the kind of fighter you can't let have a free shot. He also has been quite patient but has worked at a quick pace now into fights, his timing has been impeccable when he throws his shots.

Smith on the other hand has power but I feel he is overrated. The Skoglund, kickboxer fighter and Groves fight (Groves was starting to take over on a rounds basis), have showed me he is too much in the Gallagher vein and the first truely world class natural SMW fighter who takes his power has the chance to outbox him fairly comfortably.

For me he just doesnt mix his work up enough.

I'm also disappointed that there's talks of him fighting GGG, Jacob's, BJS etc next, all really are true MWs. Same with Ryder, although he performs much better at SMW, he isn't a normal sized one.

SMW is a pretty poor division at the moment. I guess I'm more just frustrated Smith doesn't seem to have any ambition of targeting some names at LHW.

He seems to be in that club, where you feel he's going to be fighting blown up MWs or fighters past there best in his prime years. He really needs to kick on in the 2020 and try and get fights against the likes of Benevidez and Plant, however I feel he's going to be fighting BJS.

 

Smith by stoppage for me.