(Screenshot by VickY___221B on Twitter)
Most people I see always say that Smasher is a fraud just because they beat him easily in the game. But, I firmly believe that Smasher was most likely the hardest fight V had in their life.
This is the Night City Boogeyman we are talking about. V most likely was fighting with their all to beat Smasher and must have left the fight heavily injured.
I just don't really believe V would just beat Smasher pretty easily in lore.