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'SMITH HAS NO CHANCE IF ABRAHAM'S ON TOP FORM'
ESPN, UK
Sept 25 2014
Nick Parkinson
Paul Smith has been warned he has "no chance" if Arthur Abraham is
on top form in Saturday's WBO world super-middleweight title fight
at the Sparkassen-Arena in Kiel, Germany.
Liverpool's Smith challenges for a world title for the first time
and German Abraham's promoter Kalle Sauerland believes it will be
one-sided as long as his fighter has prepared properly.
Sauerland, who also promotes George Groves, admits Abraham has been
guilty of complacency through his career which has seen him rule as
world champion at two weight divisions on three different occasions.
Armenia-born Abraham, who was out-pointed by Nottingham's Carl Froch
four years ago, reclaimed the WBO belt from German Robert Stieglitz
with a split points decision in March. That was their third meeting
after Stieglitz had stunned Abraham last year with a well-earned fourth
round stoppage due to Abraham's left eye being grotesquely swollen.
But Sauerland is confident Abraham, 34, will be back to his best
against Smith, 31, for his second defence in his second reign as WBO
super-middleweight king.
"We don't know what Arthur Abraham is going to turn up but if the
best Arthur Abraham turns up, Paul Smith hasn't got a chance and it
will be brutal," Sauerland told ESPN.
"When he wants to be, Arthur Abraham is still the same fighter we
have seen him at his best. He took Andre Dirrell lightly in 2010 and
paid for it. Then he didn't turn up until the final round against
Carl Froch.
"He was a broken man for a while after losing to Carl and went on to
lose to Andre Ward, although I think he troubled Ward in the first
couple of rounds and no one has done that.
"He took Robert Stieglitz far too lightly in their second fight,
Stieglitz came out all guns blazing and Arthur got a freak eye injury
and the fight was stopped.
"But he almost KO'd Stieglitz in their third fight, he won on points
and has won his last four now. He's been training intensely for
this and we're confident the right Arthur Abraham will turn up on
the night."
Abraham will be making a voluntary defence of the WBO belt but insists
he has not underestimated Smith as he has done with previous opponents
like Stieglitz.
He said: "I have not underestimated Smith. If anything, I have
overestimated him. I always expect to face the best when I step into
the ring and prepare accordingly. I'm in top shape and ready to defend
my title on Saturday."
http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/349097.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ESPN, UK
Sept 25 2014
Nick Parkinson
Paul Smith has been warned he has "no chance" if Arthur Abraham is
on top form in Saturday's WBO world super-middleweight title fight
at the Sparkassen-Arena in Kiel, Germany.
Liverpool's Smith challenges for a world title for the first time
and German Abraham's promoter Kalle Sauerland believes it will be
one-sided as long as his fighter has prepared properly.
Sauerland, who also promotes George Groves, admits Abraham has been
guilty of complacency through his career which has seen him rule as
world champion at two weight divisions on three different occasions.
Armenia-born Abraham, who was out-pointed by Nottingham's Carl Froch
four years ago, reclaimed the WBO belt from German Robert Stieglitz
with a split points decision in March. That was their third meeting
after Stieglitz had stunned Abraham last year with a well-earned fourth
round stoppage due to Abraham's left eye being grotesquely swollen.
But Sauerland is confident Abraham, 34, will be back to his best
against Smith, 31, for his second defence in his second reign as WBO
super-middleweight king.
"We don't know what Arthur Abraham is going to turn up but if the
best Arthur Abraham turns up, Paul Smith hasn't got a chance and it
will be brutal," Sauerland told ESPN.
"When he wants to be, Arthur Abraham is still the same fighter we
have seen him at his best. He took Andre Dirrell lightly in 2010 and
paid for it. Then he didn't turn up until the final round against
Carl Froch.
"He was a broken man for a while after losing to Carl and went on to
lose to Andre Ward, although I think he troubled Ward in the first
couple of rounds and no one has done that.
"He took Robert Stieglitz far too lightly in their second fight,
Stieglitz came out all guns blazing and Arthur got a freak eye injury
and the fight was stopped.
"But he almost KO'd Stieglitz in their third fight, he won on points
and has won his last four now. He's been training intensely for
this and we're confident the right Arthur Abraham will turn up on
the night."
Abraham will be making a voluntary defence of the WBO belt but insists
he has not underestimated Smith as he has done with previous opponents
like Stieglitz.
He said: "I have not underestimated Smith. If anything, I have
overestimated him. I always expect to face the best when I step into
the ring and prepare accordingly. I'm in top shape and ready to defend
my title on Saturday."
http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/349097.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress