Boxing Wagering: Arthur Abraham Solid Favorite For Title Fight Against Challenger Paul Smith

September 25, 2014 : WagerWeb Staff

One of the best super middleweights on the planet will return to the ring on Saturday, Sept. 27, in Kiel, Germany, as Arthur Abraham puts his WBO championship belt on the line against Paul Smith. Abraham, who is from Germany, is the +550 WagerWeb favorite.

Abraham (40-4, 28 KOs), 34, will be making the second defense of his second 168-pound title reign. He regained the belt from Robert Stieglitz by split decision in March in their third fight. Stieglitz was the more aggressive fighter, jabbing, pushing forward, with Abraham biding his time and launching counterattacks. These took their toll towards the end, with Stieglitz dropping to his knee in the final round. Abraham had beaten Stieglitz by unanimous decision in their first bout in 2012 and by TKO last year.

Then Abraham returned to the ring against Nikola Sjekloca in May in his first defense. Abraham fought through an injured right hand to beat Sjekloca (26-2, 8 KO’s) in a decisive 12-round unanimous decision in Berlin, Germany. Abraham, who fights out of the right-handed orthodox fight stance, was literally forced to fight with just his left hand alone in beating Sjekloca. The judges scored it 116-113, 116-112, 119-110.

‘This will be my fourth ring appearance in Kiel. I have won here three times before, two of them by knockout,” Abraham said. “My fight on Sept. 27 will be the first time I’ve defended my WBO super middleweight belt here and there is no way I am going to lose.”

Smith (35-3, 20 KOs), 31, of England, is a former

British champion and participant on “The Contender” reality series. Since being knocked out in the second round by George Groves in November 2011, Smith has won four fights in a row, although three of those came against opponents with sub-.500 records. Smith is coming off a second-round knockout over David Sarabiaun in May. The fight with Abraham will be his first shot at a world title. Abraham is by far the best opponent that Smith has faced. The Brit is +375 underdog at WagerWeb for the upset.

The 5-foot-11 Smith is two inches taller than Abraham, so that gives Smith one thing in his favor for this fight. But everything else appears stacked in Abraham’s favor. Each fighter has a reach of 72″. Smith has fought outside the United Kingdom just once, in California in 2007 as part of “The Contender.” Smith believes another Brit has shown him what needs to be done.

“Carl Froch showed the perfect way to beat him (in 2010),” Smith said. “My style’s made for (Abraham) but his style’s made for me.”