Walid Smichet
Encyclopedia
Walid Smichet is a professional boxer
based in Montreal
, Canada
, who is known as "Tempete de Sable" ("The Sand Storm") who fights in the middleweight
division. Walid is renowned as a devastating puncher with both hands.
Smichet is the former Canadian middleweight title holder and IBF
International middleweight title contender.
.
from the age of nine. He was Tunisian national champion for five years from 1994 to 1999 and represented Tunisia at the 2001 Francophone Games
.
, star of the reality TV boxing show The Contender
, at the Montreal Casino
, in February 2006.
McCrary landed some solid punches, especially in the second round. However, Smichet waved McCrary forward dismissively and then streamed forward, and towards the later rounds outworked McCrary.
The fight was over eight rounds and was scored a draw with one judge each giving the decision to either fighter and the other judging it a draw.
O'Brien, who was undefeated in his professional career with a record of 17 straight wins, fought well and was ahead on the judges scorecards when with less than half a minute remaining in the bout he was caught with a right hand from Smichet and knocked clean out.
Smichet was then handed the full title after Byron Mackie failed to defend his belt against him.
for the IBF middleweight title in Germany
.
Prefight Smichet had predicted that he would knockout Demers within eight rounds. Smichet was initially the aggressor and pushed forward relentlessly to take Demers out of his rhythm, however he lost momentum towards the end of the fight and Demers' superior technique pulled him through. Demers won a clear points verdict, however, the decision was met with a chorus of boo's with commentators stating that the fight was much closer than the score cards suggested with Demers just nicking many of the rounds. Demers stated "I thought I won the rounds, but closely!".
boxer John Duddy
. The fight he is best remembered for and was a candidate for 2008 Fight of The Year. on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko
world heavyweight title unification fight versus WBO belt holder Sultan Ibragimov
at the Madison Square Garden
in New York City
. The fight stole the show away from the main event, Smichet won many of the early rounds as the two stood toe to toe and opened a massive gash over Duddy's left eye. Beginning in round 5, Smichet tired noticeably and was ultimately outboxed by Duddy. He lost by majority decision, the scores were 95-95, 92-98, 92-98.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who is known as "Tempete de Sable" ("The Sand Storm") who fights in the middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
division. Walid is renowned as a devastating puncher with both hands.
Smichet is the former Canadian middleweight title holder and IBF
IBF
IBF may refer to:*International Boxing Federation is one of several boxing organisations* International Bandy Federation former name of Federation of International Bandy , an international governing body for bandy...
International middleweight title contender.
Background
Smichet was born in Tunisia although he has had all of his professional fights in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Amateur career
Walid Smichet boxed as an amateurAmateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
from the age of nine. He was Tunisian national champion for five years from 1994 to 1999 and represented Tunisia at the 2001 Francophone Games
2001 Jeux de la Francophonie
The 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IVes Jeux de la Francophonie, were held in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, Canada from July 14–24 2001.-Sports: *Handisport...
.
Professional debut
Smichet remained in Canada after the Francophone Games and turned professional in July 2002, winning his first fight on points against Martin Desjardins at the Pierre-Charbonneau Centre, Montreal. Smichet lost and drew his next two fights both on points decisions but then won 13 of his subsequent 14 fights with the other fight being a draw. In that run of fights Smichet knocked out 10 of his 14 opponents including a KO victory over Ferenc Lankonde whom he had previously drawn with in his third pro fight.Donny McCrary fight
Following this four year unbeaten stretch Walid Smichet then faced Donny McCraryDonny McCrary
Donny McCrary is an Irish-American professional boxer.-Professional career:Known as "The Savage", McCrary began his professional career in 2003, and has lost to contenders Lucian Bute, Kofi Jantuah, Allan Green, and Yuri Foreman. In 2007 he won via stunning 1st round TKO against Eric Regan...
, star of the reality TV boxing show The Contender
The Contender (TV series)
The Contender is a reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted. Produced by Mark Burnett, the show is hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard,...
, at the Montreal Casino
Montreal Casino
The Casino de Montréal is a casino located on the Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, Quebec. It is the largest casino in Canada, and one of the largest casinos in the world. The casino is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to patrons aged 18 and older. It opened October 9, 1993.-Features:The...
, in February 2006.
McCrary landed some solid punches, especially in the second round. However, Smichet waved McCrary forward dismissively and then streamed forward, and towards the later rounds outworked McCrary.
The fight was over eight rounds and was scored a draw with one judge each giving the decision to either fighter and the other judging it a draw.
Canadian middleweight title
Smichet's most high profile fight came when he fought for his first title belt against Matt O'Brien. They faced each other for the Canadian middleweight interim title in March 2007 again at the Montreal Casino.O'Brien, who was undefeated in his professional career with a record of 17 straight wins, fought well and was ahead on the judges scorecards when with less than half a minute remaining in the bout he was caught with a right hand from Smichet and knocked clean out.
Smichet was then handed the full title after Byron Mackie failed to defend his belt against him.
Demers and the IBF International middleweight title
Smichet then faced Sebastien Demers for his newly won Canadian title and the IBF International middleweight title. Demers had just been beaten for the first time in his career after facing Arthur AbrahamArthur Abraham
Arthur Abraham is an Armenian-German professional boxer HyeFighter residing in Berlin, Germany. He was IBF world middleweight champion from 2005 to 2009, making ten successful defences of his title...
for the IBF middleweight title in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Prefight Smichet had predicted that he would knockout Demers within eight rounds. Smichet was initially the aggressor and pushed forward relentlessly to take Demers out of his rhythm, however he lost momentum towards the end of the fight and Demers' superior technique pulled him through. Demers won a clear points verdict, however, the decision was met with a chorus of boo's with commentators stating that the fight was much closer than the score cards suggested with Demers just nicking many of the rounds. Demers stated "I thought I won the rounds, but closely!".
John Duddy fight
On Feb 23, 2008 Smichet waged war against IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
boxer John Duddy
John Duddy
John Francis Duddy is a retired middleweight professional boxer, from Derry, Northern Ireland. Duddy fought under the moniker of "Ireland's John Duddy" or "The Derry Destroyer"....
. The fight he is best remembered for and was a candidate for 2008 Fight of The Year. on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...
world heavyweight title unification fight versus WBO belt holder Sultan Ibragimov
Sultan Ibragimov
Sultan-Ahmed Magomedsalihovich Ibragimov, is a retired professional boxer and a former WBO heavyweight champion. He is of Avar Dagestani Muslim descent...
at the Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The fight stole the show away from the main event, Smichet won many of the early rounds as the two stood toe to toe and opened a massive gash over Duddy's left eye. Beginning in round 5, Smichet tired noticeably and was ultimately outboxed by Duddy. He lost by majority decision, the scores were 95-95, 92-98, 92-98.