Paul Smith (boxer)
Paul Smith | |||||||||||||
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![]() Smith in 2011 | |||||||||||||
Statistics | |||||||||||||
Real name | Paul Smith Jr. | ||||||||||||
Nickname(s) | Real Gone Kid | ||||||||||||
Rated at | |||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||
Reach | 72 in (183 cm) | ||||||||||||
Nationality | British | ||||||||||||
Born |
Liverpool, Merseyside, England | 6 October 1982||||||||||||
Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||
Boxing record | |||||||||||||
Total fights | 44 | ||||||||||||
Wins | 38 | ||||||||||||
Wins by KO | 22 | ||||||||||||
Losses | 6 | ||||||||||||
Medal record
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Paul Smith | |
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Genres | Grime |
Occupation(s) | MC, songwriter |
Years active | 2004–present |
Associated acts | Mike Di Scala |
Paul Smith Jr. (born 6 October 1982) is a British professional boxer. He held the English middleweight title in 2008; the British super-middleweight title twice, from 2009 to 2010, and 2013 to 2014; and has twice challenged for the WBO super-middleweight title, in 2014 and 2015.
Boxing career
Amateur career
Smith started boxing at age nine with the Rotunda amateur boxing club and fought in South Africa, Uzbekistan, and Denmark representing England. He comes from a family of boxers and he and his brothers (Stephen, Liam, and Callum) became the first group of siblings to all win ABA titles.[1][2][3][4][5] Paul won silver medals for his country in the 2001 Copenhagen Cup[6] and 2002 Commonwealth Games, losing to Jean Pascal by two points;[7] Smith was then picked up by Frank Warren and turned professional.
Professional career
Smith's career has featured many bouts held mainly in the UK, Germany and the USA. He has faced Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham for the WBO Super-Middleweight title twice. The first was a controversial decision.
On 10 March 2007, he KO'd the Belgian, Alexander Polizzi in Liverpool, winning the WBU international middleweight title in the eighth round.
On 20 March 2007, Smith took part in boxing's answer to Golf's Ryder Cup fighting American Jonathan Reid; the Nashville, Tennessee resident lost to Smith on a technical knockout.
On 4 September 2007, Smith joined nine other boxing hopefuls as members of season three of The Contender. Smith fought rival David Banks from Portland, Oregon, and ended with a win for Smith by split-decision. However, since Smith had the lowest point total out of the remaining boxers, he was disqualified. The victory over David Banks was fought in Pasadena, California and was broadcast on ESPN and ITV; Ray Leonard said Smith let his anger take away from his ability. Smith was left with two cuts, one on his nose and another around his eye; this meant he was medically unfit to continue the contest regardless of performance.
Smith returned to England and defeated Cello Renda to win the vacant English middleweight title. He lost the title in his very next fight against Steven Bendall on 21 June 2008 in Birmingham, England, on a much contested points decision.[8]
Tony Quigley
On 30 October 2009, Smith challenged Tony Quigley for the British super-middleweight title in Liverpool's Echo Arena. Quigley was the holder of the British title after defeating Tony Dodson only months earlier at the same venue. The fight was a tight affair with Smith eventually winning via split decision over 12 rounds thus crowning him the new British super-middleweight title holder.
Tony Dodson
Smith's first defense of his title came in his thirtieth professional contest at the Echo Arena, Liverpool on 12 March 2010, against Tony Dodson. Smith won again, this time via a unanimous 12 round decision.
James DeGale
Smith boxed Beijing 2008 gold medalist, James DeGale at the Echo Arena, Liverpool on 11 December 2012, the fight was stopped in the ninth round, causing Smith to lose his British super-middleweight title.
George Groves
Smith, once again challenged for the British title against George Groves, after two first round stoppage wins since his defeat to James DeGale. The bout took place in Groves' native London at the Wembley Arena on 5 November 2011. Smith won the opening round on all three judges cards and landed a hard shot on Groves towards the end of the round. One minute into the second round, however, a lead overhand right from Groves to Smith's jaw floored him. Smith was able to beat the count only to be dropped again, forcing the referee to halt the contest.
Arthur Abraham
On the 27th September 2014, Smith fought WBO Super-Middleweight title holder Arthur Abraham in Kiel, Germany. Despite arguably outworking Abraham for the full 12 rounds, the judges ruled in the Armenian's favour by scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 117–110. Many ringside observers saw the fight as being far closer than the judges ruled it and Smith's promoter Eddie Hearn labelled the judges scores a "disgrace."[9]
Professional boxing record
Professional record summary | ||
44 fights | 38 wins | 6 losses |
By knockout | 22 | 3 |
By decision | 16 | 3 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
44 | Win | 38–6 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (6), 2:16 | 10 Sep 2016 | ![]() |
|
43 | Win | 37–6 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 29 May 2016 | ![]() |
|
42 | Win | 36–6 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (6), 0:25 | 7 May 2016 | ![]() |
|
41 | Loss | 35–6 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (12), 1:46 | 20 Jun 2015 | ![]() |
|
40 | Loss | 35–5 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 21 Feb 2015 | ![]() |
For WBO super-middleweight title |
39 | Loss | 35–4 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 27 Sep 2014 | ![]() |
For WBO super-middleweight title |
38 | Win | 35–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (8), 1:17 | 17 May 2014 | ![]() |
|
37 | Win | 34–3 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 14 Dec 2013 | ![]() |
|
36 | Win | 33–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (12), 2:31 | 29 Jun 2013 | ![]() |
Won vacant British super-middleweight title |
35 | Win | 32–3 | ![]() |
RTD | 4 (6), 3:00 | 11 Sep 2012 | ![]() |
|
34 | Loss | 31–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (12), 1:18 | 11 May 2011 | ![]() |
For British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles |
33 | Win | 31–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (8), 2:22 | 17 Sep 2011 | ![]() |
|
32 | Win | 30–2 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (8), 0:58 | 21 May 2011 | ![]() |
|
31 | Loss | 29–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (12), 2:08 | 11 Dec 2010 | ![]() |
Lost British super-middleweight title |
30 | Win | 29–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 12 Mar 2010 | ![]() |
Retained British super-middleweight title |
29 | Win | 28–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 30 Oct 2009 | ![]() |
Won British super-middleweight title |
28 | Win | 27–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 18 Jul 2009 | ![]() |
|
27 | Win | 26–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (12), 2:35 | 14 Mar 2009 | ![]() |
Won vacant WBA International super-middleweight title |
26 | Win | 25–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 12 Dec 2008 | ![]() |
|
25 | Win | 24–1 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (8), 2:50 | 9 Jun 2008 | ![]() |
|
24 | Loss | 23–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 21 Jun 2008 | ![]() |
Lost English middleweight title |
23 | Win | 23–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10), 1:55 | 3 Aug 2008 | ![]() |
Won vacant English middleweight title |
22 | Win | 22–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 12 Aug 2007 | ![]() |
|
21 | Win | 21–0 | ![]() |
SD | 5 | 10 Sep 2007 | ![]() |
Part of The Contender series 3 |
20 | Win | 20–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (8), 1:21 | 30 Mar 2007 | ![]() |
Part of The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA |
19 | Win | 19–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (12) | 3 Oct 2007 | ![]() |
|
18 | Win | 18–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (8), 2:48 | 18 Nov 2006 | ![]() |
|
17 | Win | 17–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (10), 2:49 | 14 Oct 2006 | ![]() |
Won vacant British Central Area middleweight title |
16 | Win | 16–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 6 Jan 2006 | ![]() |
|
15 | Win | 15–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (6), 2:00 | 3 Nov 2006 | ![]() |
|
14 | Win | 14–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 6 Mar 2005 | ![]() |
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13 | Win | 13–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (6), 1:54 | 2 Nov 2005 | ![]() |
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12 | Win | 12–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (6), 2:11 | 17 Dec 2004 | ![]() |
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11 | Win | 11–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6), 1:42 | 10 Jan 2004 | ![]() |
|
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 9 Oct 2004 | ![]() |
|
9 | Win | 9–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6), 2:57 | 6 Dec 2004 | ![]() |
|
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 4 Mar 2004 | ![]() |
|
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 26 Feb 2004 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 13 Dec 2003 | ![]() |
|
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (4), 2:41 | 10 Feb 2003 | ![]() |
|
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 29 Aug 2003 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (4), 2:40 | 20 Jun 2003 | ![]() |
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (4), 1:00 | 8 May 2003 | ![]() |
|
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 5 Apr 2003 | ![]() |
Professional debut |
Titles in boxing
Regional titles | ||
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Vacant Title last held by Dean Walker |
British Central Area middleweight champion 14 October 2006 – 8 March 2008 Won English title |
Vacant Title next held by Jez Wilson |
Vacant Title last held by Wayne Elcock |
English middleweight champion 8 March 2008 – 21 June 2008 |
Succeeded by Steven Bendall |
Vacant Title last held by Paul Muyodi |
WBA International super-middleweight champion 14 March 2009 – May 2010 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by James DeGale |
Preceded by Tony Quigley |
British super-middleweight champion 30 October 2009 – 11 December 2010 |
Succeeded by James DeGale |
Vacant Title last held by Kenny Anderson |
British super-middleweight champion 29 June 2013 – September 2014 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Callum Smith |
Music career
As well as being a boxer, Smith is a resident DJ at the 'Society' nightclub in Liverpool.[10] He co-wrote the Ultrabeat song "Better Than Life", with Mike Di Scala and has remixed the song "Falling Stars (Waiting For A Star To Fall)" by Sunset Strippers, also with Di Scala.[11]
Personal life
Paul Smith comes from a family of professional boxers, which includes Stephen Smith, Liam Smith, and Callum Smith.[12]
References
- ↑ paul 2002 lt mddl aba
- ↑ liam 2008 lt mddl aba
- ↑ callum 2010 gb title
- ↑ callum 2011 gb title
- ↑ Stephen 2006 and 2007 ftrwt aba
- ↑ http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Tournaments/CopenhagenCup2001.pdf
- ↑ http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/CommonwealthGames2002.html
- ↑ "Smith stunned by Bendall defeat". Icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/11126278/Paul-Smith-robbed-in-fight-against-Arthur-Abraham-in-Germany-as-Eddie-Hearn-calls-judges-verdicts-a-disgrace.html
- ↑ "Club Society website". Societyuk.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ↑ "Paul Smith Jnr.". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ↑ "Biography at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.