BBN gather key predictions from the boxing world for George Groves vs Callum Smith WBSS final
WBSS super-middleweight final takes place in Jeddah on Friday, September 28
The highly-anticipated finale of the World Boxing super Series super-middleweights tournament between WBA Super champion George Groves (28-3) and WBC Diamond champ Callum Smith (24-0) is finally here and we asked our group of experts who they think will win the coveted Ali Trophy.
Tommy Langford Former British middleweight champion and sparring partner to Callum Smith
"This really is a very hard to call and an extremely good fight.
I’m sitting with Smith on narrow points mostly because I know first-hand from sparring how truly good he can be. He is a very good boxer across the board who when he gets in his zone is very difficult to get out of it. He’s absolutely massive at super-middle as well!
Groves, I'd say, is known as the bigger puncher and that’s fair as he has concussive power and he has operated at the highest level more than Smith has, so brings the experience but also more wear and tear into the fight.
I see every round being hotly contested and very close with every mistake made being punished! I can see all different outcomes in differing situations but the one I’m visualising slightly more is Smith on points."
Steve WoodPromoter and manager
"I always felt it would be a comfortable win for George Groves but feel that the shoulder injury sustained will play a big part in his downfall. May sound mad but the delay will also suit Callum Smith, who is massive for the weight, and give him time to both recover from previous make-weight fights and make weight easier this time.
George Groves going out so late has also help me changed my mind and now going for a Callum Smith win."
Miles ShinkwinFormer Southern Area light-heavyweight champion and sparring partner to George Groves
"A tough one for me to say, I've known the Smith family a long time, Liam more so, but George and I spent a lot of time together in England camps, travelled a lot to tournaments and we’ve remained friends and sparring partners since.
All that aside, I think that this fight has come at the right time for George and the wrong time for Callum. A few years ago, Callum was riding on a wave and George had just lost to Badou Jack. Now George is on that wave after beating Junior, and Smith hasn’t really been in a big fight.
My pick would be Groves on points but with both coming out healthy and a lot richer than they went in."
Mark TibbsFormer professional boxer and boxing trainer
"Groves should know a little bit too much for Smith, but this could be Smith's time now. Quality fighter Smith is but don’t seem to have been active of late; height, range and good boxing brain; power, too, could cause Groves problems…I can’t pick a winner."
Tey Lynn JonesSouthern Area middleweight champion
"Real big 50/50 fight this! Will Callum Smith come out looking to blast George away? And how will Callum deal with George’s jab coming up his guard? Hard to choose but going with Groves on points, depends how well Smith can still make weight at super-middle going into the later rounds if George weathers the storm."
Joel McIntyre Former English light-heavyweight champion
"My brain says Groves, I think he will come through a hard fight with Callum Smith.
Smith is super talented, strong and dedicated; I just see a real good fight between them, but Groves has grown into that top level, his experience is second to none in that division. Both corners have got good trainers in there, Shane McGuigan is real good and has a great team around him, but then so does Smith.
I see it being a great fight that could go either way but if someone put a gun to my head then I'd say Groves wins for his experience overall."
Robbie Davies JrWBA Continental super-lightweight champion
"Great fight! The best vs the best, in my opinion.
Although George has proven himself at top level against elite fighters, I feel Callum has waited for his chance patiently to fight for a world title. Like when George first fought for a world title, he was hungry. I feel he is now less hungry because he has achieved so much.
I think the early rounds will be well contested, but Callum will pull away down the final stretch and take a well-fought points decision – Smith win via UD."
Niall Doran Founder and Editor of Boxing News & Views
"Fantastic fight! Groves will need to be careful of the Smith power but I think Groves might have a little too more experience and polish to his work for Callum at this stage of his career. Groves really seems to be enjoying his boxing again and has come up with some very strong tactics so far in his bouts with Shane McGuigan in the corner.
Leaning towards a Groves unanimous points decision but that Smith power can change the game at any point in the fight."
Lenny FullerUnbeaten middleweight
"I thinks it's going to be great fight from start to finish, but all depend on what Callum Smith turns up on the day.
If Groves' shoulder hold outs then I got Groves via late stoppage or points decision.
For Callum to win he's got to figure out that spearing jab and superior footwork of Groves and take the fight to him and make Groves uncomfortable from round one."
Anish ParekhContributor to British Boxing News
"After losing his third world title fight against Badou Jack, few would have guessed that George Groves would today be world champion and fighting to be the lineal super-middleweight champion.
Against Callum Smith, Groves finds himself in the position of the hunted. It's a role he revelled in when he got under the skin of Carl Froch, who had to dig deep to defeat his young and hungry adversary. Although Smith hasn't waged psychological warfare in the way that Groves did so expertly to 'The Cobra', he will still give him plenty to think about. He is a large, fundamentally sound and powerful fighter, who feels that this is his time.
My feeling though is that Groves – like his great rival Froch – can dig deep, draw on all his experience and eke out a razor-thin decision victory. It won't be without some shaky moments and drama though."
Joe Neale Boxing Agent and Matchmaker
"I think this is Callum Smith’s time, I do worry about his lack of head movement but think he should edge a competitive points win. I feel Callum sometimes fights to the level of his opponents when he is unmotivated and the Super Series fights have been very low key, so far. I see him rising to the occasion, it’s been years in the making for a fight like this.
Callum Smith by decision."
Jamie ArlainBritish Challenge belt lightweight champion
"For me, Smith wins this. I feel he is the bigger and and stronger of the two, and expect Smith to stop him in the later rounds."
Chris GloverBoxing journalist
"This is a great fight and it’s a hard one to pick. Smith has the ability to knock any fighter out at super-middleweight. Groves undoubtedly has power, but it’s his movement that will be the key to winning this fight and whether or not his legs will last 12 rounds. Also there will be a battle of the jabs and I would favour Groves in that one.
My prediction is a George Groves points win."
Shannon CourtenayEnglish amateur champion
"I think George Groves wins on points as long as he stays switched on the whole time and doesn’t get complacent or drawn in where Smith is comfortable throwing them ripping body shots! I think Groves' sharp, low, unpredictable jab will cause Smith trouble for the whole 12 rounds, as long as his shoulder holds up, that is!"
Dan Blackwell Professional super-middleweight boxer
"I think Groves could take this quite easily, I think he will be too quick and sharp for Smith.
Smith hasn't been up against the same kind of opposition and hasn't really been in a situation where he hasn't had it his own way. Smith is great at range when he has it his own way, but don't think this will be the case. Be a good fight though, one I will be tuning in to watch."
Sergio MichelAmerican guitarist and songwriter
"George Groves is not the fastest or the strongest boxer out there, but he seems to know where the "off switch" is on his opponents. His accuracy at targeting vital organs or vulnerable locations to cause one punch KOs is undeniable. This means he has "it", the intangible instinct a true martial artist is born with, which cannot be taught. This man simply "knows how" to fight. He also has good, subtle evasiveness and effective movement with great range control – always at the right place to land his right.
Callum Smith, by contrast, is faster, physically stronger and busier. His body shots are raking and very effective. When you try to assess and compare these two fighters' pros and cons and who is more likely to win, you must first start with the question/premise, "Does the physically weaker/slower Groves with greater accuracy, better technique, more proven KO ability and more natural talent best the physically faster, stronger, more devastating body puncher, Smith?" This is simple to answer. The answer is, this fight's outcome pivots on only one factor, Groves' evasiveness and movement. If Groves can modify his lateral movement to sacrifice his positioning for his big right in exchange for neutralizing Smith's ability to throw punches in bunches and coda with that reaping left to the body, then Groves wins by UD. If Groves instead stays in range, as usual, and gives Smith a target, then Smith gets a stoppage over Groves by mere attrition via accumulation of brutal body shots."
Joseph SizaContributor to British boxing News
"I for one cannot wait for this fight. It has been a long time coming. This is Callum Smith’s true coming of age fight – we will finally get to see how good he is.
My concerns for Smith is the lack of experience and momentum he has going into this fight. He picked up an impressive series of wins against the likes of Rocky Fielding and Hadillah Mohouamadi, but for a long period of time after that he was taking low profiled fights waiting for his WBC title shot. On the other hand, since teaming up with Shane Mcguigan, Groves has had a number of competitive fights and has good form and momentum going for him.
What Smith can take encouragement from however, is within the three losses Groves has accumulated in his pro career, they have all come against bigger 168’s than him. You certainly aren’t going to get a bigger super middleweight than Callum Smith. This could in fact nullify the full effect of Groves’ jab and distance control – an advantage he usually possesses over his opponents.
A more important thing to note is experience, something that you just simply cannot buy. This was a pivotal factor in the Groves-Eubank fight and I believe it will once again lead to Groves being victorious in this fight and lifting the Muhammad Ali trophy – should his shoulder hold up.
Prediction: Groves on points"
Latest best odds for George Groves vs Callum Smith (at 9.30am on September 25)
George Groves win: 8/11 (William Hill) Miles Shinkwin favours this outcome
Callum Smith win: 117/100 (Marathon Bet) Tommy Langford picked this version
George Groves stoppage: 3/1 (Betway) Eightexperts above selected Groves to win but not by stoppage
Callum Smith stoppage: 4.33/1 (Winner) Jamie Arlain agrees with this
Draw: 20/1 (Sky Bet) Mark Tibbs is sitting on the fence for this one