Journeying to the US to face Andre Ward was always going to be a hard task for Paul Smith.
Even though Ward had been out of the ring for nineteen months, due to contractual problems, Smith would have known that he?d be up against an epic fighter.
Even though the fight was made at a catch-weight of 172 pounds, Smith entered the ring somewhere near the 184 pound limit, presumably to be able to soak up the pressure he knew was coming his weigh whilst also being able to cash in on the possibility that the extra poundage might give some extra leverage when unloading his own punches.
But once the fight had commenced it really was all one-way traffic and Ward showed that although he had been out of the ring his skills had been perfectly honed in the gym. Smith may have had the odd success with single punches but the Liverpool fighter was often seeking refuge, unsuccessfully, on the ropes and when the towel was thrown in it was a welcome relief for all in Smith?s entourage.
After the fight, 32-yar-old Smith accepted that his corner had made the correct decision in stopping the fight when he remarked,
?The towel couldn?t have come quick enough.?
With his trainer Joe Gallagher also commenting,
?It was a war we didn?t want to continue.?
Although Smith was fined some $60,000 of his purse, with half going to his opponent, for his weight issues, it was good to see that Andre Ward recognized Smith had dug in and courageously and told him he didn?t want his half of the fine and would be returning it.
For Smith there will be some hard questions to ask about where, after three consecutive losses, his career goes now, for the returning Andre Ward the big-fights are heading his way but on the form he showed against Smith, who?ll be willing to trade with him next?
Andre Ward Is Back!
