Arthur Abraham vs. Paul Smith: Fight Time, Date, Preview and TV Info
WBO super middleweight champion "King" Arthur Abraham will rematch Paul Smith on Saturday night at the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany. Many believe Abraham was the recipient of some rather generous scorecards in the first fight with Smith that took place in September 2014.
Abraham won a unanimous decision with two judges scoring the fight in his favor by six points and the other by 10. Anyone who saw the fight knows that it was much closer than that. Some might even argue Smith could have deserved the decision.
Here's a look at the entire bout, per Lys Alexandrov of Fight-BG.com on YouTube:
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In any case, Abraham maintained his title and is now looking for a less controversial win over Smith. Here's how you can watch the rematch.
When: Saturday, February 21, at 2:20 p.m. ET and 8:20 p.m. local
Where: O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany
TV: Sky Sports
Intimidation and Respect
Long known for his explosive power, Abraham once hammered his way past opponents with well-timed counter shots and excellent finishing instincts. As of late, his power hasn't been as devastating.
Abraham hasn't scored a stoppage win since 2012. You can bet Smith is aware of this, and he should be especially confident considering he took what's likely the best Abraham had to offer in the previous bout.
By the midway point of the bout, it was clear Smith wasn't intimidated. Apparently, he still isn't.
Recently, Abraham predicted he would score a knockout over Smith just to remove all the doubt from the first fight's decision. Per Sky Sports, Smith has shrugged off that prediction and fired shots back at the champion. Smith said: "I think he’s old and showing his age and I believe I’ve learnt a hell of a lot from the last fight. There is a lot more I can do from the last fight which I’ve learnt from and I’ve picked up on."
There's only a two-year difference in age between the fighters. Abraham is 34, while Smith is 32. That said, there's a huge gap in experience and potential wear and tear.
The champion has boxed 339 frames to just 191 for Smith. The grueling battles may be taking a toll on Abraham.
To dispel this concept, at some point early in the fight, Abraham must force Smith to respect his power. If the champion can buzz the challenger, it could set the tone for the fight. Smith has yet to prove he can win a big fight. In his two biggest bouts aside from taking on Abraham, Smith failed miserably.
George Groves stopped him in the second round in 2011. James DeGale stopped him in the ninth round in 2010. The fact that Smith was able to remain competitive with Abraham in the first fight could speak to Smith's in-ring improvement.
It could also serve as proof that Abraham has indeed slowed down. There was a time when he would have likely destroyed Smith. However, that's not the case this time around. This bout will again be competitive, but the outcome will be a bit different.
Prediction
Smith didn't get any love from the judges the first time around. However, with the scrutiny the first decision received, I'd expect a more level playing field. In the second half of the first fight, Smith looked to have more energy. He was controlling the center of the ring and forcing Abraham to back up.
If he hopes to win the rematch, he'll need to be aggressive from the outset.
Smith waited too long to get things going in the first fight. That won't be a problem in this one. Smith appears to be hungrier than Abraham and is primed to put on the performance of his career.
Look for Smith to win a close split decision. Abraham's power and speed have waned. His guile and cunning will not be enough to remain champion.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.
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