Callum Smith eyeing move to 175
When you look at the boxing landscape from 160-175 pounds, a fighter who is often forgotten is WBA “Super” World Super Middleweight champion Callum Smith (27-0, 19 KOs). The unbeaten 30-year-old from Liverpool, England is as good as anyone in that weight range. Yet, you rarely hear his name brought up for any potential big-money fights.
And based on that reality, Smith has so far been unable to garner a unification bout with either of the other world champions in the division: WBC world champ David Benavidez, IBF titleholder Caleb Plant, or WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders. Neither has he secured a showdown against the likes of former Middleweight world champion Danny Jacobs or the sport’s cash-cow, Canelo Alvarez.
FANCYING A MOVE UP
As a result, Smith is now pondering a move up to the light heavyweight division, as he explained to co-hosts Adam Catterall and Nick Peet of the UK boxing podcast The Fight Disciples.
“Over the years I’ve gotten bigger and I’ve got a good nutritionist. I’ve always said that I’ll do it properly and the minute I start cutting corners and it starts affecting my performance, I’ll move up.
I’ve achieved what I wanted and become a world champion at super middle. I would have hated to outgrown the weight (168lbs) before winning a world title. I’ve done that now, so I’d love to be a two-weight world champion.
I believe I’m big enough and good enough to compete at the highest level at 175, but it’s still big fights and unification bouts at 168. So I’d like to try and do as much as I can before I move up. I’m bigger, I just turned 30 last month and I think the move to 175 is sooner rather than later.”
Sporting a big 6’3″ frame, Smith has the body and size to carry the additional seven pounds with ease. And with his skill set and punching power, he’s right in believing he could be very successful at light heavyweight.
A SOLID OPTION AT 175
One fight at 175 that’s enticing to boxing purists would be a fight between Smith and WBA “Super” World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs). Both are signed to Matchroom and Bivol has mentioned Smith as someone he would like to face.
The cold truth is that even though Smith is aligned with the promotional powerhouse Matchroom, he is at a bit of a crossroads. If he can’t get the big money prize that is Canelo, and if the other world champions are not too keen on fighting, a move up in weight may be his most feasible move.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
