Super Middleweight

Martin Murray continues the new chapter of his career at super middleweight by taking on Jose Miguel Torres Saturday night.

The fighter from St. Helens, England, has won two fights so far at the 168-pound limit this year, but hard-hitting Colombian Torres should give him his toughest test to date.

The bout is the main support act to local lad Josh Warrington's clash with Joel Brunker at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.

When: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: SkyGo (UK, subscription required)

Murray Marching On

Promoter Eddie Hearn is certainly keeping Murray (31-2-1, 14 KOs) busy since the boxer joined the Matchroom stable.

The 32-year-old fought twice in the space of a month before the summer break, and he now returns again early in September.

Wins over George Beroshvili and Mirzet Bajrektarevic in June and July, respectively, did not tell us much about Murray since his switch to super middleweight.

Torres, though, has the potential to be a tricky fight, but Murray has been in with better. Much, much better, in fact.

He became the first man to take Gennady Golovkin beyond 10 rounds earlier this year, eventually losing to GGG in the 11th after a brave but unsuccessful bid to claim the IBO and WBA titles.

That was his third attempt at becoming a world champion—he lost to WBC holder Sergio Martinez in 2013, while a draw against Felix Sturm two years earlier denied him from picking up the WBA strap.

The near-miss against Sturm in Mannheim, Germany, is as close as Murray has come to fulfilling his dream. He said after that fight in 2011, "Personally I thought he won it, but we are in Germany. We'll be back. The Martin Murray story isn't over," per BBC Sport.

Despite his disappointment at the outcome, he is still willing to go back to Germany.

Arthur Abraham—who currently holds the WBO super middleweight belt—is in his sights. Murray told Sky Sports, "I'd love the Arthur Abraham fight. It'd be in Germany so you're always up against it."

First, though, Murray must make sure he does the job against Torres, a power puncher who should not be underestimated.

Middle of the Pack

At first glance, Torres' 73 percent knockout rate suggests he is an opponent that should be swerved by anyone plotting a path to a world title shot.

However, delve a little deeper into his 31-6 (27 KOs) record and you will spot a few cracks.

For starters, he is not a super middleweight. Torres has actually been as low down as welterweight in his career, but has been a regular at the 160-pound limit in recent years.

He was at his heaviest (161.5 pounds) when he fought David Lemieux in 2013, though it didn't do him a lot of good. 

Middleweight Lemieux—who faces the unbeaten Golovkin in October—is the only man who has beaten Torres inside the distance.

Murray may not be known to carry the same power as the Canadian, so a stoppage triumph would make a statement, as he explained to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, "Jose Torres is tough, and I’m too experienced to overlook him. I need to go in there and do the business."

Since losing to Lemieux, Mochuelito has reeled off four straight wins. However, only one of the quartet he faced—Hector Carlos Santana—had a winning record. 

Prediction

Don't expect Torres to go quietly into the Leeds night. At 5'8" and with his recent fights at middleweight, he doesn't have a chance of wearing down his opponent over the course of a 12-rounder.

Instead, he will have to look for a stoppage. That tactic should make for an entertaining bout, at least for as long as he lasts.

Murray should not be overly concerned by Torres' power, considering who he has been in against. Expect him to make it a hat trick of wins at his new weight, with a stoppage coming just past the midway stage.

The late Mickey Duff once said, per sports-quotes.com, “A lot of boxing promoters couldn't match the cheeks of their buttocks.” 

The straight-talking Duff was a promoter and manager himself, so he knew the issues that came with matchmaking in the fight game. Boxing politics can often put up roadblocks to potential bouts, and the bottom line is everything tends to come down to money.

Yet, sometimes the men who make the deals can hit the nail right on the head. Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has, it seems, done just that in announcing that Callum Smith will face Rocky Fielding later this year.

As a promoter, you have try to do right by everybody. It is the sports equivalent of plate spinning, a circus act where you have to keep things moving or else the whole situation will collapse around you.

Fighters want the right opponent for the right money. The paying public, meanwhile, need to be convinced that the bout is worth them parting with their hard-earned cash. Then, there's the matter of picking a venue for it all to take place, not to mention the added issue of television coverage.

For instance, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has come in for recent criticism after announcing Andre Berto will be his 49th—and potentially final—opponent.

Steve Bunce of ESPN wrote about the fight, “Berto is not a bad fighter, he is just not as good as most of the men that Mayweather has beaten.”

Erik Morales—a boxer who rarely backed down from a challenge—told ESPN Deportes (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of BoxingScene.com), “I don't think it's a very competitive bout. It's two fighters who, without being racist, almost nobody wants to see. Perhaps the fight is interesting for them, but for us not.” 

Mayweather, of course, is in a position of complete control.

He can pick who, as well as where and when, he fights next. That is the benefit of being the best in the business. Whatever your opinion of him—and he appears to be the boxing equivalent of Marmite, in that you either love or hate him—Money talks. The boxing world, meanwhile, has to just sit there and listen.

But, while the American doesn’t have to take risks at this stage of his career, others understand that taking a chance is the best way to prosper.

Hearn has taken a gamble in agreeing to put two of Britain’s rising stars in the super middleweight division in the ring together on November 7.

The British title will be on the line when the pair meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. It is home turf for both men, so they will not lack for support inside the venue.

In confirming the bout, Hearn said in the Matchroom Boxing press release:

This is one of the biggest domestic fights of the year and such a fascinating fight. 

Neither fighter would back down or out of this fight and now fight fans get an absolute cracker. 

It is 21-0 vs. 17-0, both fighters are ranked highly across all World governing bodies, there is going to be some atmosphere at a packed Echo Arena on November 7 but the big question – Who’s Fooling Who?

The announcement immediately pricked the interest of the boxing community on social media platforms. Even current fighters Enzo Maccarinelli and Amir Khan reacted to the news on Twitter:

Smith vs fielding is a great fight hats off to both lads for wanting to make it happen

— Enzo Maccarinelli 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇹 (@theRealEnzoMac) August 19, 2015

Great news for #TeamSmithBros @LiamBeefySmith @SwiftySmith @CallumSmith23 @gallaghersgym @GlovesABC 👊🏼

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) August 19, 2015

Smith and Fielding are former gym-mates from the Rotunda club in Liverpool. They didn’t need to fight each other at this stage, with both having already built up impressive records in the paid ranks.

However, the level of interest, plus the lure of a Lonsdale belt and the added bonus of a big payday, have led to a contract being signed.

Smith—the youngest of four fighting brothers—was last seen beating the durable Christopher Rebrasse on points in June. He is tall (6'3") and talented, and he is learning his trade in trainer Joe Gallagher's gym.

Fielding, meanwhile, is a rough diamond who is proving to be a quick learner. While Smith went the distance in the summer, Rocky flattened the experienced Brian Vera inside two rounds on the same card.

Both Liverpudlians have their eyes trained on a world-title shot in 2016.

That could mean they end up facing either James DeGale and George Groves, two domestic rivals who also went up against each other relatively early in their pro careers.

While the rivalry between Fielding and Smith is nowhere near as heated, there are some similarities to be drawn.

DeGale and Groves were also undefeated when they met in May 2011. They, too, were local rivals, both hailing from London, who had come across each other in their amateur days.

They had a combined total of 24 pro fights, yet a showdown between two such relatively inexperienced boxers was still big news in Britain. That was purely down to their relationship, or lack of one. It was clear the contempt for each other was not a tactic to sell tickets—they simply don't like each other.

Since winning on points at the O2 Arena in the English capital, Groves has twice failed to take the IBF and WBA belts from Carl Froch.

He will hope to make it third time lucky in his quest to become a world champion when he faces WBC title-holder Badou Jack on September 12, on the undercard to Mayweather against Berto.

DeGale, meanwhile, already has his hands on a major strap. Chunky defeated Andre Dirrell in May to become the new IBF champion.

He has not lost since Groves got the better of him on the scorecards over four years ago, but that defeat still rankles with him. He told Sky Sports, "Our rivalry goes back, it's not a made-up rivalry. It's serious—we don't like each other, so I think it's natural fight to be made and I look forward to it."

The lesson for Fielding and Smith is that, no matter what the result when they go toe-to-toe in their own back yard, it will not define the path their respective careers will take.

For now, though, they deserve praise for making this mouthwatering domestic duel a reality. Hats off to Hearn, too. He has given the British public a fight they clearly want to see, judging by Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Rocky_Sullivan_/status/634124757286318081

Calling Smith vs Rocky Fielding...
Now that's a fight I'm looking forward to..

— Jimmy McNeil (@jimmymac0110) August 19, 2015

https://twitter.com/jamacd2011/status/633988699387228160

Even Hearn himself seems excited:

Great day today..huge respect to these 2 men @CallumSmith23 @Rocky87Fielding they will give you a night to remember! pic.twitter.com/FIvfL2e6tW

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) August 19, 2015

Considering the early interest, he won’t now have to work overly hard promoting the event.

Someone’s "0" has to go in November. But regardless of the outcome, both Fielding and Smith can go on to bigger and better things.

Frank Buglioni had a title in his grasp after winning at Wembley Arena on July 24—it just wasn’t the one he was after.

The Londoner claimed the WBA International super middleweight belt by stopping the overmatched, not to mention overweight, Fernando Castaneda in the closing seconds of the fifth round.

It was a comfortable victory for Buglioni, who now has a professional record of 17-1-1 (13 KOs).

But it can't have felt anything but anticlimactic for the winner, considering what he should have been fighting for.

The 26-year-old was scheduled to face reigning WBA champion Fedor Chudinov on the same date, but the Russian pulled out after suffering a broken nose in training, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.

So, instead of having the chance to box for a major belt, Buglioni instead found himself facing Castaneda. The late replacement came in seven pounds too heavy at the weigh-in, which was hardly surprising, considering his previous outing had been at cruiserweight.

The Mexican’s CV—he was 23-9 (14 KOs) going into the bout but had lost three of his last five—suggested it was always going to be a case of when, not if, the home favourite triumphed.

Buglioni got the job done, ending proceedings with a well-timed body shot.

But he is still a work in progress, even if he has been champion of Europe already, meaning the clash with Chudinov is a gamble that he's willing to take at this stage.

He is currently ranked by BoxRec as the seventh-best British fighter at the 168-pound limit, behind two other rising stars in the division: Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith.

The world title challenge has now been rescheduled for later in the year. Promoter Frank Warren took to Twitter to reveal the date:

Good night last night. @dellboychisora back with a bang, @MitchellSmith92 was devastating and FrankBuglioni marches on to Chudinov on 26/09

— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) July 25, 2015

It is pleasing to see Buglioni has not missed out on such a massive opportunity.

Chudinov, though, is going to be a tall order for Wise Guy. The 27-year-old from Bratsk, Russia, is 13-0 (10 KOs).

His last two performances suggest he will be a handful, no matter which way Buglioni goes about the job.

He registered a points win over Felix Sturm to claim the vacant WBA strap back in May, showing he can last 12 rounds in the process. He also demonstrated his power with a second-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Ben McCulloch at the end of last year.

Buglioni, in contrast, has failed to record victories in his two biggest tests so far.

The Brit was beaten by the experienced Sergey Khomitsky in April 2014, and he fought out a hotly contested draw with former amateur rival Lee Markham earlier this year.

He did get back to his winning ways against Castaneda, though Scott Gilfoid of Boxing News 24 was not overly impressed: "Buglioni looked very, very robotic and mechanical against Castaneda. I couldn’t help thinking that if Buglioni was matched against a decent quality fighter, he would have been beaten."

Buglioni will have to improve on his performance against Markham, but maybe the big stage will bring out the best in him. He's hungry, has the benefit of a height advantage (he's 6′1″ while Chudinov is 5′9 ½″) and has a knockout rate of 68 percent.

He will also not lack support when he returns to Wembley Arena in September. He has developed a strong following in the capital.

Yet Chudinov’s team seem to be looking beyond him. They have already announced that their man will face the interim WBA champion, Vincent Feigenbutz, at some point this year, per Allan Fox of Boxing News 24.

Buglioni will hope to spoil his rival’s plans, though to do so, he will have to produce the best performance of his career to date.

Frank Buglioni takes on Fernando Castaneda for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight title on Friday night—but it's not the belt he was hoping to be fighting for at Wembley Arena in London.

Buglioni had originally been due to face reigning WBA champion Fedor Chudinov, only for that bout to be shelved due to injury.

Instead, he must now focus on Castaneda, a Mexican drafted in for a show that also sees Billy Joe Saunders get an outing before he challenges WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee in September.

Also on the same card, unbeaten Kevin Satchell defends the European flyweight title against Thomas Masson, while Mitchell Smith will be hoping to stretch his record to 13-0 with a win over Dennis Tubieron.

When: Friday, July 24, 9 p.m. BST

Where: Wembley Arena, London, England

TV: BoxNation (UK)

Live Stream: BoxNation (UK, regional restrictions apply)

Late change

Buglioni was originally preparing for what could have been a career-defining night. Instead, he's now got to make sure he doesn't slip up on a potential banana skin.

The 26-year-old (16-1-1, 12 KOs) secured the chance to fight for a major world belt against the unbeaten Chudinov, who had defeated Felix Sturm to claim the vacant WBA strap back in May.

However, a broken nose has forced the Russian—whose brother, Dimitry, lost to Chris Eubank Jr. in the English capital earlier this year—to withdraw.

The good news for Buglioni is that a new date is being lined up. Per Anthony Hay of the Mail, he said: "It’s frustrating to know that I have to wait a little longer until I get to Chudinov, but the main thing is I will get him."

He will look to take his frustration out on Castaneda in his first scheduled 12-rounder. 

His solitary defeat in the professional ranks came against Sergey Khomitsky. Since then, he has won four and drawn once.

Buglioni retained the European super middleweight belt last time out, though only thanks to a draw against former amateur rival Lee Markham. The pair had initially been set for a rematch, according to Simon Mail of the Enfield Independent, before the chance to fight Chudinov emerged.

Mexican now on the menu

BUGLIONI TACKLES RISKY MEXICAN AHEAD OF CHUDINOV WORLD TITLE FIGHT http://t.co/6ggb1hWI6M pic.twitter.com/eSgfc0v2vh

— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) July 21, 2015

Castaneda has a 23-9 (14 KOs) record. He has lost three of his last five fights.

His most recent outing was a cruiserweight contest, though he has also campaigned down at super lightweight in his eight-year career. He weighed in at 139 pounds against Fidel Monterrosa Munoz in 2011, but he was at 196 for his victory over Miguel Cubos last November.

Buglioni—per Sky Sports—is refusing to take anything for granted, despite his rival's mixed record:

Whilst it’s disappointing that it’s not Chudinov in front of me, Castaneda is a game, strong, fighter and I believe he’s also done plenty of sparring with Saul Alavarez, so he’ll know his way around the ring.

Of course being a Mexican he’s going to be a tough opponent and will take some wearing down, but I’ve trained hard for Chudinov and I’ve got to take out all my built up frustration on someone so Castaneda is going to get it.

He’s the final hurdle I have to overcome until I get to Chudinov later this year.

Castaneda's record of 14 wins by knockout should make the home favourite a little wary, even if the 26-year-old—nicknamed El Huracan—will be fighting on European soil for the first time.

Prediction

Buglioni should perhaps be grateful for the chance to get another fight under his belt before taking on the dangerous Chudinov.

He found the going heavy at times against Markham in a fight described by Boxing News as a "contender for Fight of the Year." Castaneda, though, shouldn't cause anywhere near the same amount of trouble.

The Mexican looks perfect for a tune-up bout—he should be game for a couple of rounds, but Buglioni will record a stoppage win in the third or fourth.

Like cinema, boxing is no stranger to trilogies. From the black-and-white reels of Zale-Graziano to the classics of Ali-Frazier and the sheer brutality of Ward-Gatti, some of the sweet science's most compelling fights and most enduring rivalries have emerged from three-bout series.

Trilogies create neat storylines in boxing. There's revenge, redemption, bad blood and—owing to its odd-numbered format—evidence for debate as to who's the better boxer. It's all there, on the record.

However, in some select cases, two fighters will add a fourth chapter to a stirring rivalry.

Fight fans will be treated to just such an occasion Saturday, when boxer Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) defends his WBO super middleweight title against fellow German Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) at Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle, Germany.

Both boxers may be advanced in age, but they are still high-caliber fighters. 

Abraham is ahead 2-1 in the series and has the coveted WBO belt to his name. Stieglitz should be desperate to even the tally in this saga and recapture the belt he's held twice before in his long career.

Here's the viewing info for the conclusion to this epic tetralogy nearly three years in the making. 

Abraham vs. Stieglitz Viewing Info

Date: Saturday, July 18

Time: Fight card coverage begins at 7 p.m. BST

Location: Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle (Westf.), Germany

TV: Sky Sports 1 (UK), SAT.1 (Germany)

Live Stream: SkySports.com (region restricted)

Preview

The WBO super middleweight title is integral to the story of Abraham-Stieglitz. When these two first met in the ring in August 2012, Stieglitz was the titleholder, making his seventh title defense. Abraham won via unanimous decision after 12 rounds of close action.

Six months later, Stieglitz was back for his hardware and took it convincingly, earning a fourth-round TKO over Abraham. It was Abraham's first loss since a May 2011 fight against the excellent Andre Ward, and only the fourth of his career. The second chapter of this tetralogy also represents the last time Abraham lost a bout.

The Armenian-born fighter went off in search of the WBO Inter-Continental super middleweight title, secured that and then retook the WBO World belt in a 12-round, split-decision win over Stieglitz, their closest fight yet.

Judge	Score (12 rounds)	In Favor of
Michael Pernick	112-113	Stieglitz
Clark Sammartino	114-111	Abraham
Paul Thomas	115-110	Abraham

Abraham got a bit of revenge on Stieglitz in that last bout, knocking the Russian-born fighter down in the 12th round, a fact he brought up when discussing the prospect of again facing Stieglitz, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:

Robert is [the] mandatory challenger, so of course he deserves his shot. I've enjoyed our rivalry, but like all good things, this must come to an end. The Gerry Weber Stadium will provide the perfect venue for me to finish our feud. I had Robert down in the 12th round of our last encounter, but this time, he will hit the canvas a lot sooner.

That's a bold claim for a 35-year-old pugilist whose finishing power seems to have diminished in recent years. The last time King Arthur forced a stoppage was in the eighth round of a match against Mehdi Bouadla in December 2012, the fight preceding his lone loss to Stieglitz.

In any case, Stieglitz isn't exactly known for having a weak chin. He's also nearly a year younger than Abraham, but with a bit more pro mileage. It could very well be that this fight starts out cagey before turning into a war in the later rounds.

Stieglitz won't have much, if any time left to challenge in the WBO ranks should he lose this bout to Abraham. It would also serve as a decisive win for the titleholder, who claims he wants to "look for a unification," per Sauerland Promotions at Boxing247.com.

Stieglitz needs to at least make things close after settling for a draw against Felix Sturm in his last bout. He can't afford to lose much momentum at this later stage in his career. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcV2jybvWJE

While this bout would seem incredibly likely to serve as a conclusion to this long-running conflict, Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ noted a fifth fight isn't necessarily out of the question: "The fourth meeting between Abraham and Stieglitz should be the last, but we'll see, since the super middleweight division is weird and not exactly crawling with contenders who are dying to fight Abraham in Germany."

While it is true that Abraham rarely fights away from his home turf of Germany, a fifth fight would probably only happen if Stieglitz pulls off the minor upset and rips the title away from Abraham. Fans might clamor for a fifth bout to break a tied series, while Abraham would no doubt be looking to get right back on top as the WBO champ. 

Stieglitz only has to look back to his previous bout against Abraham for inspiration. A fourth-round TKO win over a titleholder is a fine achievement in any weight class at any time, and their split-decision contest shows that there is little gap between these two, even though Stieglitz has had much more time away from the ring than Abraham in the last couple of years.

Rusty or rejuvenated, look for Stieglitz to force this one to the cards against Abraham.

Prior to them fighting on the same bill on June 26, Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith seemed to be on a collision course.

A domestic clash between the unbeaten pair of super middleweights, most likely for the British title, looked a certainty to happen.

Terence Dooley of BoxingScene.com wrote that the British Boxing Board of Control had revealed a date and venue had been “pencilled in" already.

But, despite both men posting impressive victories on the same bill in their home city of Liverpool, the bout has now been rubbed out on the calendar. Good thing it was only written in pencil then.

Before getting the better of Christopher Rebrasse, Smith spoke to Sky Sports about the possibility of facing Fielding:

That is a big fight in Liverpool. We're both undefeated and there's a lot of demand for that fight. If we both come through Friday then we'll sit down and talk.

I'd love to win the British title. I've seen my three brothers fight for it and it's a great belt to win. If that fight comes, I'd jump at it. It's a fight I'm 100 per cent confident I'd win.

For his part, Fielding had previously stated to Sky Sports his desire to take on Smith’s eldest brother, Paul. However, the building blocks for a bout with Callum were seemingly now in place instead.

Yet something seems to have changed—it appears those best-laid plans have now been ripped up.

After seeing Smith out-point Rebrasse to claim the vacant WBC Silver title, promoter Eddie Hearn hinted he was steering his fighter in another direction, telling Sky Sports: “The Rocky Fielding fight is definitely a great fight for Liverpool but Callum has his eyes on world titles.”

You cannot blame Hearn. Even if you're not part of his management team, it is hard not to get carried away with what you see from the man nicknamed Mundo.

He is 6’3”, 17-0 (12 KOs) and still only 25. There is obvious potential to move up, but right now he's sticking around at a weight limit that is overflowing with options.

Rebrasse was the toughest test of his career to date, and he dealt with the Frenchman impressively. His body punching was particularly impressive against an opponent who had previously gone the distance with George Groves, with a succession of left hooks underneath the ribs causing a knockdown in the 10th.

Footballer Wayne Rooney was among those who took to Twitter to praise Smith for his performance:

Well done to all the lads @TonyBellew @Rocky87Fielding and @CallumSmith23

— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) June 26, 2015

Well done @CallumSmith23 good win, loved the body shots. See u soon.

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) June 26, 2015

In the end the judges needed to decide the outcome, but Smith won by a landslide. Hearn confirmed that with the result the WBC would now rank Smith No. 1, per Sky Sports.

Badou Jack is the current champion, with the Las Vegas-based Swede to make the first defence of the belt against Groves in the autumn.

A shot against the winner is the obvious aim for Smith—if that were Groves, it would be perfect, making it an all-English clash with a major belt on the line.

Fielding may be having the same thoughts about a possible crack at the current holder of the IBF strap, compatriot James DeGale.

He picked up the vacant WBC International crown by beating Brian Vera, stopping the experienced American inside two rounds, but is ranked in the top 10 by the IBF.

Just as with Smith, Fielding displays real potential.

A former Prizefighter champion, the 27-year-old has shown signs of improvement in his recent fights.

He had already won the English and Commonwealth belts, but the way he dismantled Vera, someone who twice took Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. the distance, was his most eye-catching result to date.

The contrasting victories for Fielding and Smith should have laid the platform for a showdown between the two in September. Instead it might have paved the way for them to go in different directions, for now at least.

That would be a shame, as a clash between the Liverpudlians would give us great insight into their talent and their temperament fairly early on in their careers.

The city they both live in would embrace it right now—there would be no problems selling tickets—and the media coverage would offer further exposure to the spotlight.

Defeat would be a disappointment for whoever lost but by no means a career-shattering result. If it was a spectacle that left the fans wanting to see a repeat, it would do wonders for their reputation. They should use Groves as an example—he lost twice to Carl Froch yet gained many admirers for the way he fought.

World titles are understandably the aim for any boxer, but the fights you have forge your reputation. A rivalry, whether fuelled by bad blood or not, can become your legacy.

Hopefully, sooner rather than later, Fielding and Smith will meet in the ring.

In the end, Paul Smith couldn’t pull off a shock win over Andre Ward. Now, in the immediate aftermath of defeat, it might mean it is the end of the line for his boxing career.

Despite 19 months of inactivity, despite giving away several pounds after his opponent failed to make the catchweight limit originally agreed, Ward was simply too good on the night.

S.O.G. dominated from start to finish at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, showing no signs of any ring rust as he moved through the gears as the rounds passed by.

In the ninth he was so dominant that Smith’s corner decided enough was enough—with their man bloodied and bruised, they threw the towel in.

The Liverpudlian had always travelled to California in hope more than expectation, telling Sky Sports: “I must try my best to upset the apple cart and throw a spanner in the works.”

Yet the only real upset he caused came long before the first bell sounded.

For whatever reason, Smith did not make weight. The limit had been set at 172 pounds, yet he initially came in more than four pounds over that number.

As anyone who has travelled on an airline knows, the excess baggage always proves to be expensive, whether it is by choice or a legitimate mistake. The British fighter was hit hard in the pocket, and Ward—per Sky Sports—was not impressed: 

If he struggled that much with the weight he should have alerted us a long time ago. There could have been a change in the weight. If you wait until the last minute and then get on the scales—it's not a good look.

'It makes you think, "is this a strategy?" It doesn't make me more confident—it makes me more motivated.

I did my part to make the weight. He didn't and I feel a certain way about that.

Smith was given a new target: 181 pounds for a check weight on the morning of the fight. According to the same story from Sky Sports, he didn’t get under that number either, reportedly registering 184.4 pounds.

To put that in perspective, the limit for a light heavyweight is 175 pounds, while Smith had come in under 168 pounds for his previous bout, against super middleweight Arthur Abraham, in February.

The 32-year-old was fined for failing to make weight on two occasions, losing a percentage of his purse as a penalty. Dan Rafael of ESPN revealed exactly how much on Twitter:

Purses from Oakland: Ward $2 million, Smith $225k - $45k Cali weight fine - $15k for Sat weight check overage = $165k. #boxing #WardSmith

— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) June 20, 2015

Ward had queried out loud in his quotes after the weigh-in as to whether his rival had made a tactical decision to come in so heavy.

Gav Duthie of Boxing News 24 developed the theory, writing: “Smith is a very good inside fighter all be at domestic level so it’s possible he has watched Ward and wants to come in bigger and stronger."

Whatever the reason, the extra weight didn’t make any difference. If Smith hoped it would factor into his favour, he was wrong. If he had not conditioned his body for battle, it did not show.

Smith battled bravely, but was clearly out of his depth. There’s no disgrace in that, and in no way is it a criticism. Ward is undefeated as a professional and, prior to his lengthy absence from the ring, was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

Smigga made it into the ninth round against Ward, though—per David Coldwell on Twitter—he might be left with the marks to prove it:

Looks like Paul had his nose broken that final round. #WardSmith

— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) June 21, 2015

Always a tough task for @PaulSmithJnr as @andreward is such a smart, talented fighter. He got in there & took his lumps. That's #boxing

— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) June 21, 2015

Now, Smith—the eldest of four boxing brothers—has to ask himself what else there is left to do in his career.

He is 32—not an age to suggest he’s washed up and finished—but the loss to Ward comes off the back of two failed attempts to take the WBO title from Abraham.

Previous losses to James DeGale and George Groves mean the former British super middleweight champion has been in with the majority of the leading names in the division.

It would be a considerable step back to return to action at domestic or European level, while another challenge for a world belt isn’t going to happen in the near future.

DeGale is the current IBF champion and Abraham holds the WBO belt (Smith is not first in line to face either man again), while Badou Jack has the WBC title in his possession, the Swede is set to defend it for the first time against Groves, per Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail.

The WBA strap, meanwhile, is currently with Fedor Chudinov, but another Brit—Frank Buglioni—heads the queue to face the unbeaten Russian.

Speaking to Michelle Joy Phelps from Behind The Gloves, Hearn acknowledged that Smith’s next career move could be outside of the ring, rather than picking an opponent to face in it. The full interview with the promoter can be seen below:

Smith told David Anderson of the Mirror in September last year that he came close to calling it quits after being beaten by Groves in 2012, only to quickly realise he “still loved boxing” and had to carry on. 

That love may still burn within, and perhaps there’s a desire to keep on going in the pursuit of becoming a world champion.

But Smith—who has already built a reputation for his honest punditry during his times working in the media—has now had big fights to boost his bank balance (even after paying his fines for the Ward weigh-in) and can be extremely proud of what he has achieved.

No boxer wants to sign off on a losing note, but facing Ward on American soil is a great stage to bow out on.

Andre Ward will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday night, taking on Englishman Paul Smith in a catchweight contest in Oakland, California.

The American has not fought for 19 months, his last outing seeing him defeat Edwin Rodriguez on points to stretch his perfect pro record to 27-0 (14 KO).

Smith (35-5, 20 KO), meanwhile, has fought twice for a world title at super middleweight, losing on both occasions to Arthur Abraham in Germany.

Now the Liverpudlian has been presented with a glorious opportunity to take on a fighter who, prior to his period of inactivity, was rated by The Ring as the best in the world at 168 pounds.

When: Saturday, June 20, 11 p.m ET/4 a.m. BST

Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

TV: Sky Sports (UK), BET (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (UK, regional restrictions apply)

The Waiting Game

Ward's layoff has been a frustration, not just for the man himself but also for boxing fans.

His career has not been helped by a legal battle with Dan Goossen in a bid to terminate his contract with the promoter.

However, his trainer, Virgil Hunter, does not believe his fighter's absence is due to the long-running dispute with Goossen. Ward has now signed up with Roc Nation Sports. According to Boxing News' Matt Christie, Hunter instead puts Ward's lack of action down to a lack of willing challengers: "If people won’t fight him because he is too good, they should come out and say that."

A rematch with Carl Froch, whom Ward defeated in the final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic in 2011, has long been talked about, but the American told Sky Sports that he's not sure it will ever happen:

It's tough [to] go back and forth. I personally like Froch. I mean personally I do. I appreciate not just his toughness but I appreciate his competitiveness.

I see a lot of myself in Froch. He’s very competitive and that's like me; I'd rather let you take an arm than beat me—and that's how he is.

Honestly I don’t think he wants to fight.

Of course, Froch is not the only big name out there.

Gennady Golovkin could step up from middleweight for a money-spinning showdown, though Bleacher Report's Kevin McRae detailed in May why that bout seems unlikely to happen.

There will be plenty of talk about what the future holds for Ward after Saturday night, provided he doesn't suffer a first loss in the paid ranks.

A bout with Smith, which is at a limit of 172 pounds, offers the American the perfect opportunity to blow away the cobwebs. It has been a long time coming, but S.O.G is finally ready to make a comeback.

In Search of a Miracle

Smith is a realist. He knows that he is going into this fight as a huge underdog. Odds Shark has him at 16-1 odds to win, and Ward has been on a different level to him during their careers.

However, Smigga showed in his two bouts with Abraham that he is better than just a domestic-level fighter. He went the distance on both occasions against King Arthur, though Ward will be a different proposition entirely.

Smith—the oldest of four boxing brothers—acknowledged as much in an interview with Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo:

People that know me, know how tough I am, the heart I have got and that'll I'll give everything I have.

I have got to take my chance when I get it. I think I will catch him, and when I do, I'm hoping it has the effect that I think it will have. I'm hoping to capitalise and jump on that.

...

I'm not here to stand and try to out-box Andre Ward for 12 rounds—nobody in the world has every done that and I don't think there's a fighter out that could do that.

The 32-year-old's work in the media, including the occasions where he has been a ringside analyst for Sky Sports, has given him the chance to showcase his excellent boxing brain.

Tactics, however, do not hold the key to him potentially pulling off the mother of all upsets.

He has to throw caution to the wind, grit through the pain and seize any opening that presents itself. Ward is a world champion, but even he has to be a little rusty after being out for so long.

The one certainty is that Smith will not lose for a lack of trying. It could be his last opportunity in the big time, so expect him to leave it all in the ring.

Prediction

If Ward had been more active of late—he has fought just twice in the last three years—this would be a mismatch.

Smith has lost to James DeGale, George Groves and Abraham (twice) in his career. Ward has beaten the latter of that trio, as well as Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Chad Dawson.

However, the Californian's lack of rounds has to be taken into consideration when it comes to a prediction.

Ward will win, but he won't take any risks in the process. He has only stopped one of his last six opponents, but eventually Smith will be worn down in the closing rounds.

Super middleweight Callum Smith has won all 16 of his fights to date in the paid ranks, with 12 of his victories coming inside the distance.

The Liverpudlian—the youngest of four fighting brothers—was a silver medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games before turning pro late in 2012.

Yet while Mundo may be the baby of the bunch, he also happens to be the biggest.

At 6’3”, he has a huge frame and, judging by the number of quick finishes he has had so far in the ring, carries considerable power to go along with his size.

His promoter, Eddie Hearn, branded him “one of the hottest prospects in world boxing,” per Behind The Gloves, having seen his man win the English title inside his first year in the paid ranks.

ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael has twice selected Smith as one of his 20 top prospects, while Ring Magazine profiled him in their July 2014 edition.

The hype surrounding him from the early days suggested he could end up being the best of the quartet of siblings, a bold statement considering Liam, Stephen and Paul have all been crowned British champions.

The 25-year-old has not had the benefit of an easy apprenticeship either.

Hearn has not held him back—last year he threw him in against Nikola Sjekloca, a Serbian who had taken both Sakio Bika and Arthur Abraham the distance. Smith also went 12 rounds with him, yet still ran out a convincing winner on the scorecards.

Now ranked No. 3 by the WBC (h/t fightnews.com), Smith is targeting a world title shot—and he may not have to travel too far to get one.

Swede Badou Jack is the current holder of the WBC belt, with his first defence due to be against Englishman George Groves. That fight could potentially take place on the undercard to Floyd Mayweather's next—and quite possibly final—outing later this year, according to Chris McKenna of the Daily Star.

There is another option close to home. James DeGale is the new IBF champion and, like Smith, is part of Hearn’s stable of boxers.

Both domestic opponents appeal to Smith, as he explained to Matchroom Boxing:

There’s a lot of big fights out there for me in this division, and the biggest ones are all on my doorstep. There’s a lot of talk about IBF champion James DeGale getting a rematch with Groves next summer but hopefully I can get to Groves first and take his title if he beats Jack, and maybe me and James DeGale can fight.

Winning the World title is much more important to me than fighting Groves – but I do believe I have got the beating of him style-wise if it comes off.

Smith cannot contemplate the prospect of facing Groves or DeGale for too long right now, as he must first see off Christopher Rebrasse on June 26.

British fans may remember the Frenchman from his fight with Groves last year. He took Saint George all the way to the final bell, losing on points to relinquish the European title.

Rebrasse is nicknamed L’iceberg and is confident he can sink Smith’s grand plans when they meet in the ring at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

He told Matchroom Boxing: “There is lots of hype around Callum Smith—I’m still unsure how good he is.”

The statement is fair: Smith has certainly been given a big buildup, and it remains to be seen just how far he can go.

Right now, though, it is hard not to get a little carried away with the obvious potential.