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Abraham v Smith - WBO super-middleweight title

    ABRAHAM v SMITH PREVIEW [video]
    9/27/2014 7:56:45 PM
    [boxing]MACK IS BACK
    The first fight of the night saw Matthew Macklin climb back into the ring for the first time in 10 months, taking on Jose Yebes over eight rounds. Long before Paul Smith's world title challenge...
    9/27/2014 7:59:36 PM
    POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
    Well, you probably know the result... but Macklin won on points. There was plenty of ring-rust and Yebes has not been stopped but the rounds is the one thing Macklin needed. He boxed well at range and was a comfortable winner but he wants - and needs - to get right back into the middleweight mix.
    9/27/2014 8:02:23 PM
    [judges]READ THE REPORT
    http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/11067/9492520/matthew-macklin-wins-out-in-germany-out-pointing-jose-yebes-on-his-return

    9/27/2014 8:03:54 PM

    Macklin is back with a win

    9/27/2014 8:04:47 PM
    JOE ON THE GO
    One of the reasons Macklin was so early in proceedings (first on the card) is so Joe Gallagher can get enough time to prepare Paul Smith properly.. The ringwalk will be at 10.00pm fight fans!
    9/27/2014 8:14:14 PM
    TRADING ROOM TIP[dazed]
    Sky Bet's boxing tipster Jamie Casey is finding it difficult to see past the favourite tonight, he's reckons your money should be on a stoppage win for the favourite. 
    Smith has been stopped twice in his career, against James DeGale and George Groves respectively, while Abraham has gone the distance with the likes of Carl Froch and Andre Ward, the division’s elite. That suggests Smith is going to have to come up with something truly special to claim a stoppage win (7-1), while a win on the cards in the champion’s own back yard is even less likely at 15-2. It’s a short price, but Smith could find himself a little out of his depth tonight, so take Abraham to win inside the scheduled 12 rounds at 8-15.
    Find Sky Bet's short betting preview and odds here.
    9/27/2014 8:15:00 PM
    PUNTERS’ CHOICE
    [betting]Well the bookmakers and tipsters may not be giving Smith much of a chance tonight, but that’s not the feeling among the punters. Smith has attracted over 15 times the number of stakes as Abraham has, as Sky Bet’s punters eye up the value in his price of 7/2. And in the individual round betting, Smith to win in Round 9 is the most popular at 66/1, with very little money coming in on the home favourite at all. Patriot punts? Perhaps, but good luck to Smith from Sky Bet!

    9/27/2014 8:30:00 PM
    [added-minutes]COUNTING DOWN...
    We have 20 minutes to go before Paul Smith makes his ringwalk and the world title fight begins...
    9/27/2014 8:42:08 PM

    And we have a familiar face out in Kiel, George Groves

    9/27/2014 8:44:28 PM

    Matthew Macklin gives us his view of a return to the ring

    9/27/2014 8:47:12 PM
    [boxing] RIVALS RETURN
    So Macklin and Murray could well follow the lead of Cleverly and Bellew... and there is little to choose between the pair of them. As the rankings always remind us...

    9/27/2014 8:49:46 PM
    SMITH COMING SOON
    We will now start counting down to the big one... just 10 minutes to go and to start we spoke to the promoters out there. Kalle Sauerland and of course, Eddie Hearn.,,


    9/27/2014 8:52:27 PM

    Kalle Sauerland is predicting King Arthur to retain his world title... with a KO!

    9/27/2014 8:53:09 PM
    [boxing]KING ARTHUT CONFIDENT
    He is the WBO super-middleweight champion. This is his second stint in charge of that strao but has not stopped anyone for a while - and four fights.

    Nickname:King Arthur
    Age: 34
    Lives: Berlin
    Record: 40-4
    KOs: 28
    9/27/2014 8:59:36 PM
    [boxing]THE CHALLENGER
    The Merseyside derby ended all square.. will Liverpool have something to celebrate tonight?

    Nickname: Smigga
    Age: 31
    Lives: Liverpool
    Record: 35-3
    KOs: 20
    9/27/2014 9:00:50 PM

    The champion is certainly confident...

    9/27/2014 9:02:26 PM
    BIG FIGHT PREDICTIONS [twitter]




    9/27/2014 9:07:04 PM
    [boxing]GALLAGHER'S GUIDE
    A lot depends on how Arthur Abraham comes out; if he comes out fast we will adapt to that. We've got a few plans and listen, if things aren't working, we can change them. We need to win - and win by all means necessary.

    9/27/2014 9:07:30 PM
    [round-7]ROUND SEVEN
    A fairly quiet start to this one. Abraham looks like he's taking a break but Smith keeps shuffling into range, letting go and then shifting out again. He lands another nice right and the bodyshot from the left makes a real mark. Abraham comes back but again Smith scores with another cracking combo; Abraham is hunched up so the hooks hammer home, then when he emerges on the offence, the headshot lands again. Cracking round! Abraham draws him in but he ends the round missing big shots. But that was the best round of the night for the boy from Liverpool. Is Abraham on the way down. Well Smith looks really, really good.
    9/27/2014 10:02:20 PM
    [round-8]ROUND EIGHT
    Smith sends a slick straight right threw his guard for a starting shot with Abraham easing his way into the eighth. Both seem to have energy to burn after a quiet half but Smith misses another big right, although he then swerves a nasty left coming in. Yes that draw Abraham out of his slumber but still, Smiths pump that jab in, puts the combo together and then gets out. There are exchanges again but Abraham has hardly shone. Smith finishes with another bodyshot - that hits home clearly. Another good round for Paul.
    9/27/2014 10:06:35 PM
    ENCOURAGING SIGNS...[jim-watt]
    Another huge effort from Paul Smith. There’s no question that Abraham’s work is impressive, but he took far too long to get started in that round. I think he’s feeling the pace, I really do

    9/27/2014 10:06:57 PM
    [round-9]ROUND NINE
    Right here and now, this could go either way! This is clearly the best we've seen from Smith and just to hammer than point home, a naughty little uppercut catches Abraham nicely. Abraham looks like his old self and trundles in, throwing the bombs but bang! A right from Smith clearly wobbles the champion. He does not dive in to finish off because Abraham wants to hit back but a sensible move from Smith keeps him at range. It is another round that has not only seen Smith box well, but suggests King Arthur is suddenly feeling his age. Scoring will be crucial!
    9/27/2014 10:10:34 PM
    [round-10]ROUND TEN
    So we go into the championship rounds - and it is the challenger who starts off on the offensive. A left-right downstairs does well for starters but eventually Abraham responds. He gets Smith in the corner - hardly viciously - and hammers away with a three-punch combo but again the guard is tight and the guard his high and Smith deflects them away. He comes back with those hooks of his own and this is a genuine close round. Bang-bang, your turn! Yet once against Smith finishes really well, with that straight right becoming a nice sign-off. We could be in for a real shock here...
    9/27/2014 10:14:27 PM
    SMIGGA STRONG! [gallery]

    9/27/2014 10:14:40 PM
    [round-11]ROUND ELEVEN
    A low blow from the champion goes unnoticed but four shots to the ribs don't. Not big but might score the points - and he might need them. Referee Byrd steps in for the first time with Abraham grabbing hold, clearly for a rest. Smith sees this and his umpteenth wind sees him pop in the jab and the straight right again. He leans in from range and still lands and still moves away before Abraham has come back. The Smith left hits up, then down, and shows that he really is in charge now. There are whistles from the crowd, perhaps at King Arthur because he is gone quiet - for a man who usually relishes in these late stages.
    9/27/2014 10:18:18 PM
    NO HOME COMFORTS [jim-watt]
    Abraham is really feeling the pace. He’s looking to take
    little breathers.     His is a worried corner. He's been picking his shots - I have Smith only having to get through this round without a knockdown and he's the champion


    9/27/2014 10:18:55 PM
    [round-12]ROUND TWELVE
    The last round, this is it... Abraham comes out swinging and lands two bodyshots and all of a sudden the momentum has shifted. The right gets through from the champ surging forward but just when you think Smith is in trouble, he jabs and jumps out of the way. He gets caught on the ropes but three big shots go wildlyl wide of the mark and Smith survives. He is does come back and they trade but for once, an Abraham final round does not bring success. The bell goes, Smith's hands go up. The Kiel crowd jeer...
    9/27/2014 10:22:07 PM
    TWITTER VERDICTS...[twitter]




    9/27/2014 10:23:36 PM
    [judges]WHO WINS?
    It's going to the judges and will the shock come? Will Smith get the decision out in Germany, against an established world champion, in his own backyard. People believe he did enough and whatever happens Paul Smith produced the performance of his life. It is genuinely a 50-50 call...
    9/27/2014 10:24:08 PM
    [judges]IT'S ABRAHAM'S!
    The decision has gone the champions way in a UNANIMOUS DECISION! And wait for the scores... 117-111, 117-111, 119-109.
    9/27/2014 10:25:58 PM
    STILL SMILING! 
    Is that a look of relief on Abraham's face, or a smile of satisfaction? Either way, he's kept hold of his title...

    9/27/2014 10:28:13 PM
    [dazed]SHOCKING SCORING
    A tough, tough, tough decision. Those scorecards do little favours for anyone other than Abraham. Not Smith and not even boxing. To suggest that Abraham won by six rounds was one thing, but to give him 11 rounds of the 12? Well... what can you say? It doesn't really surprise any of us. Home advantage lives on...
    9/27/2014 10:29:01 PM
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