Quartermaine vs Smith Predictions: Can Dan foil ‘Sugar Boy Roy’ ploy?

Unbeaten super featherweight stars Danny Quartermaine and Royston Barney-Smith do battle this Saturday, October 25. The clash takes place on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley. DAZN will screen the event live from the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.

Here are my Quartermaine vs Barney-Smith predictions ahead of this tantalising tussle.

Quartermaine vs Barney-Smith Odds

Barney-Smith is a wide 1/11 to take this victory home. Quartermaine is 15/2 to prevail. The draw is priced at 16/1.

Quartermaine vs Barney-Smith Fight Preview

The super featherweight division is enjoying something of a boom period in Britain. Anthony Cacace was the IBF champion until he relinquished it to defend his lesser IBO strap against two-time featherweight beltholder Leigh Wood. The Northern Irishman knocked his challenger out in nine rounds, having also beaten Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington on his current run.

Elsewhere, Ryan Garner has climbed to fifth with the WBC after beating Reece Bellotti to unify the British, Commonwealth and European titles. James ‘Jazza’ Dickens’ twin-upsets over Zelfa Barrett and Albert Batyrgaziev have earned him a crack at Japanese wunderkind Hayato Tsutsumi. 

The other world-ranked British super featherweight is Quartermaine, who looks to make a statement in this fiery domestic division against Barney-Smith. It is a brave choice from both men and a fight rich in implications for both winner and loser. There is nothing more special than watching two boxers with real skin in the game collide.

Barney-Smith is putting his head into the lion’s mouth at the age of just 21. A successful amateur, the starlet racked up two European Championship golds as well as a brace of national titles. Barney-Smith was tipped to represent Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, but opted for the professional path instead.

Making that decision takes real confidence. But then you need that in spades to call yourself ‘Sugar Boy Roy’. Boxers have been sweetening their moniker since Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson terrorised London rings in the 19th century. Robinson, Leonard and Mosley have all made ‘Sugar’ a name to be feared. At just 21 years of age, Barney-Smith is aiming to do the same.

How much does the kid have to fear against Quartermaine? The 28-year-old is fast, but not faster. Barney-Smith’s 50% knockout rate is not concussive, but outstrips Quartermaine’s 30.7% stoppage stat. 

Quartermaine is brave. He overwhelmed James Chereji despite suffering a knockdown and a grotesque eye injury. He is intelligent, knocking Guzman Singh out with a left hook that was thrown with unexpected, angular brilliance.

One factor to be aware of is what happens with the heads. Two of Quartermaine’s last five fights have ended early due to cuts from head clashes. I do not believe this is intentional, but Quartermaine fights in raids, pouring forward at speed. Barney-Smith fights the same way and is a southpaw. That stylistic match could see some unintentional coming-togethers.

Hopefully this one will be settled with fists not foreheads. These are two top domestic fighters with designs on the next level. A victory will propel one up the world rankings. All to play for in Greenwich.

Quartermaine vs Barney-Smith Full Card

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Juergen Uldedaj vs Rolly Lambert Fogoum

Danny Quartermaine vs Royston Barney-Smith

Mitchell Smith vs Arnie Dawson

Tony Curtis vs TBA

Hassan Ishaq vs TBA

Zayn Ahmed vs Engel Gomez

Jimmydean Wood vs Artjom Spatar

George Crott vs Bahadur Karami

Danny Quartermaine vs Royston Barney-Smith Prediction

I think this is a great match-up for Barney-Smith. ‘Sugar Boy Roy’ is quicker than Quartermaine and I believe speed is where this fight will be won. 

It could get messy. Orthodox vs southpaw can go either way entertainment wise, but given these two are considered boxers rather than guns-akimbo warriors, I reckon this will be a chess match. 

That is why I’m going for Barney-Smith on points here. I think the amateur standout will get his shots home quicker. Quartermaine could change tack later in the fight and make it close. But I reckon Royston deals with whatever comes his way in a tremendous fight for his professional development. Barney-Smith on points at 8/13.

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