Mwakinyo can bang with one of the best of them so Smith has to stay centered in Liverpool, writes Matt Christie
WHEN Liverpool’s Liam Smith made the transfer again to Sky Sports activities this yr – by way of promoter Ben Shalom – he did so hoping it might lead to a money-spinning showdown with Chris Eubank Jnr. What he will get as a substitute, a struggle towards Tanzania’s Hassan Mwakinyo, slightly sums up “Beefy’s” luck lately. At all times keen to struggle one of the best, in any location, Smith has too usually discovered that one of the best – or in Eubank’s case, essentially the most profitable – don’t at all times wish to struggle him.
Smith is a former belt-holder at super-welterweight however, nonetheless, there’s a sense that Liam, now aged 34, has all of a sudden bought his work reduce out to fulfil his true potential. Among the best of all boxers in Britain on the subject of all-round skill, the WBO strap he claimed in 2015, then misplaced to Canelo Alvarez the next yr, nonetheless stays his solely flirtation with world gold.
All through his profession he has bettered his countrymen, nevertheless. Each Steve O’Meara and Erick Ochieng had been extremely regarded when he outscored them in 2012 and 2013 respectively. He twice beat a ferocious Liam Williams in 2017 (albeit controversially the primary time) and, extra just lately, he outclassed each Sam Eggington (2019) and Anthony Fowler (2021). His solely losses got here away from residence and in excellent firm. Smith, 31-3-1 (18), gave Alvarez a good scrap in Texas earlier than being stopped in 9, he was aggressive with Jaime Munguia in Las Vegas en path to dropping on factors in 2018 and was unfortunate to be on the fallacious facet of one other 12-round determination towards Magomed Kurbanov in Russia final yr.
He bounced again from each defeat with renewed dedication to maneuver ahead. A loss to the unfancied Mwakinyo can be tougher to brush off, nevertheless. Twenty-seven years previous, with a document of 20-2 (14), Mwakinyo has been to the UK earlier than when, slightly unexpectedly, he exhibited his meaty proper hand. The recipient then, in September 2018, was the aforementioned Eggington who hoped to safe a shot at a sanctioning physique belt in victory. Mwakinyo scored a surprising victory in spherical two after triggering the upset with a left hook to shut the primary.
Although the facility was evident, it stays troublesome to ascertain Smith permitting the African to tee off like Eggington did. The Midlander’s behavior of reacting to a hurtful blow by inviting one other was a defective ploy. Proper hand after proper hand, every delivered in quick bowler movement, landed flush on Eggington till his legs buckled, his head rattled, and the referee properly referred to as it off. Effectively-telegraphed they could have been, however they need to additionally function a warning to Smith that he mustn’t underestimate his opponent, nor enable himself to change off.
Final trip, 12 months virtually to the day, Mwakinyo feasted on the stays of Julius Indongo, stopping him in 4 rounds to retain his African 154lbs title. Indongo loved success when maintaining Mwakinyo behind his lengthy jab however finally fell aside when his opponent, swinging at full pelt at any time when the previous titlist bought shut, inevitably hit the goal. Although crude and a way beneath Smith on the subject of boxing skill, his intuition to let fly with haymakers means he can be a perpetual nuisance and due to this fact can’t be written off utterly. Loads of British fighters have come undone when confronted with related opposition.
Regardless, Smith has by no means as soon as ready poorly nor taken victory without any consideration. It appears solely a lull in focus, or a sudden decline in reflexes, may price him right here. “Beefy” will get ample probabilities to raid his opponent’s physique and patiently drain the ambition from him. This might nicely go the complete distance – Mwakinyo appears as hardy as they arrive – however we count on the Scouser, buoyed by preventing in his close by Echo Enviornment the place his document is 11-0 (9), to finish issues within the second half because the educated strain turns into an excessive amount of to bear.
Ought to it go as anticipated, count on Smith to get a chance – and payday – worthy of his expertise in his subsequent outing.
One other native fighter, Natasha Jonas, can be hoping to money in on the finish of her profession. The inspirational southpaw – one thing of a trailblazer within the newbie code – eventually received knowledgeable belt when she walloped a woeful Chris Namus on the Manchester Enviornment in February. The prize for that two-round shellacking was the vacant WBO super-welterweight strap, regardless of it being Tash’s first struggle above light-welter. Sweden’s Patricia Berghult, 15-0 (3), is prone to be higher ready than Namus and due to this fact present a greater indication of how suited Jonas actually is to the additional weight.
Berghult, who brings her WBC belt to the social gathering, has constructed her document predominantly on lowly opposition within the skilled ranks. Nevertheless, she saved much better firm as an newbie. In 2012, for instance, she beat an 18-year-old Lauren Worth, however discovered the standard of opponents like Katie Taylor, Chantelle Cameron and Estelle Mossely to a lot to beat earlier than turning over in 2015.
The one professional rival of any actual regard she has encountered is Hannah Rankin, who Berghult edged over 10 rounds in 2019. In that bout, Berghult began rapidly, flooring the Scot within the opening session and ramping up the strain within the second. Rankin performed catch up nicely down the stretch however ended up a loser on all three playing cards.
A well-schooled boxer with quick fingers, Berghult has solely fought as soon as since then, outpointing veteran Olivia Belkacem over 10 rounds in November final yr. Jonas, in the meantime, is battle-ready after dealing with prime class opposition like Terri Harper and Katie Taylor since Berghult defeated Rankin. And although Namus was poor (a subsequent one spherical loss to Mary Spencer additional illustrated her decline), the promise of a sanctioning physique belt supplied Jonas, 11-2-1 (8), with yet one more high-end coaching camp below the tutelage of Joe Gallagher.
It’s that lifetime of superior training which makes Jonas a wholesome favorite. She needs to be conscious of her opponent’s work-rate, fast ft and nifty in-fighting prowess, however the residence fighter – assuming the additional weight doesn’t grow to be a burden in an extended struggle – needs to be backed to win this one over the 10-round distance.
It’s refreshing to see the gifted Dan Azeez defend his British light-heavyweight title slightly than going the extra ‘trendy’ route – which is to intention at obscure worldwide fighters for obscure worldwide titles, whereas paying a sanctioning physique to reward the winner with a excessive rating. In Shakan Pitters, a towering Midlander who by some means makes 175lbs, Azeez – and us followers – get a much more worthwhile opponent.
The 6ft 6ins Pitters, from Birmingham, received the British championship himself in the summertime of 2020 when he broadly outpointed Chad Sugden earlier than dropping it on the finish of the yr in a minor upset to Craig Richards. It’s the nature of that loss – a catalyst in “Spider’s” subsequent resurgence – which makes Pitters the underdog. Pitters was unable to deal with the springy challenger’s assaults, from vary and in-close, in a lot the identical means Hosea Burton did when confronted with Azeez of their conflict for the vacant title (Richards had by then relinquished).
Since that November 2021 triumph, Azeez, 16-0 (11), has fought simply as soon as, beating Reece Cartwright in eight rounds 5 months in the past. Coincidentally, Pitters, 17-1 (6), comes into this one on the again of an eight-round victory over Cartwright, too. Shakan beat the Leeds fighter again in November 2021 (one week earlier than Azeez stopped Burton in seven) however there was a way at ringside that Cartwright ought to have been allowed to proceed when the referee stopped it.
Pitters is fast and nimble for such a tall man. Although a superb physique puncher with a whipping jab, the 33-year-old doesn’t at all times use his top and attain to his benefit. To win right here, he should be certain that Azeez is saved at vary for lengthy intervals and, when the champion burrows inside, is tied up. To win, then, Pitters could have to take action uglily.
An upset will not be past the realms of chance. However 32-year-old Azeez has been preventing with confidence in latest outings and appears the heavier hitter. He might want to take probabilities to interrupt inside and hurl overarm rights when shut sufficient to attach. Anticipate Azeez to focus on Pitters’ lengthy and lean physique, too.
Pitters could make life awkward for Azeez however we count on the championship to stay with the person from Lewisham. A stoppage, within the second half, appears the likeliest consequence.
Crimson sizzling super-lightweight Adam Azim, 5-0 (4), will get one other runout, as does 2-0 (2) heavyweight Frazer Clarke, who can now construct momentum after recovering from damage. There’s first rate cruiserweight matchup between cruiserweight prospects Nathan Quarless, 10-0, and Michael Webster, 7-0 (5), too. THE VERDICT: A strong invoice to kickstart the brand new season.
