WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith (26-0, 19 KOs) has admitted that his dream of a hometown fight at the 54,000-seat Anfield football stadium would disappear if he loses to mandatory challenger John Ryder (28-4, 16 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on November 23 on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.
“I want the big fights, I want the superstar names and the only chance of me getting them is by having a world title, so I’ve got to keep my belt for as long as I can,” said Smith. “John Ryder poses a big threat. He wants to take what I’ve worked so hard for. I worked hard to win my world title and I’ve got to work even harder to keep it now.
“I’m expecting a tough fight from John Ryder, he’s in good shape and it’s a big opportunity for him. I just think the best version of me beats any super middleweight on the planet. With the way I’ve been performing in the gym, I think I’m going to put in a big performance. You’ve got to respect him because he’s in good form. He’s won fights where he was the underdog and he wasn’t supposed to win.
“He deserves a lot of respect. He hasn’t just been picked out of a hat, he earnt the mandatory position with good wins. I respect every fighter and John especially, but like I said before I think the best version of me beats any super middleweight in the world and as long as I turn up and perform the way I know I can then I think I’ll be too much for him.”
Ambitious plans are in place for Smith to fight at the home of his beloved Liverpool FC in May next year, potentially a unification clash against WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders.
“This fight is like every other fight in my career, they’ve always been must-win. I always wanted to be where I am now so any loss along the way would have derailed those plans. Now people are talking about 2020 and the massive names and the thought of Anfield. All of that disappears if I lose to John Ryder.
“It’s the same motivation that I’ve always had. I always want more and I’m always wanting to see what’s next. This fight is no different, a win over Ryder opens the door for possible huge fights in 2020. A loss to Ryder and they all disappear and I become a challenger again and I join the queue. It’s a must-win fight for me and that’s all I need. As long as I’ve got a world title I’m in a very good position.”
I have to agree with Callum Smith: the best version of CS can beat any super middleweight.
I don’t see him losing to Ryder, and I hope that he will get his big name fights. I have no doubt that he can and will beat BJS. The biggest fight in this division would probably be CS vs. David Benavidez.
The fight against Ryder should be an interesting one: he just beat Akkawy in convincing fashion and his improvement since 2016 is remarkable. However, if Callum Smith comes into this fight in top shape, I think it will be a KO or a least UD win by Callum in the late rounds.
Ryder last lost to Fielding. A guy who was supposedly a sitting duck for Canelo. Canelo destroyed Fielding. So this guy Ryder is either a total joke, nobody, sitting duck. Or Canelo’s destruction over Fielding wasn’t such a sham. Just saying.
Two ways Callum can fill the 54,000-seat Anfield football stadium : Giving away the tickets for free or fighting a prime Carl Froch. Now lets go down to reality: As the top dog at 168, but unfortunately not the money guy, I believe Callum should forget Canelo and the other top guy at 168 (Benavidez and Plant) and make the move to 175 where at 6’3″ he still big and there is where he can find the dream fight for him with Beterbiev or Bivol. Canelo wont fight him (he chose Kovalev instead), Smith is a big, young and a powerful fighter reaching his primes. This type of fighters are not in Oscar or Canelo wishing list. GGG too, in a heartbeat will say no, if Hearn propose this fight for him
If the tickets were given away for free he still wouldnt fill it. Froch was not that popular in the states to sell-out 45k seats. Prob only Canelo on Mex Independence day.
Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, England.
My bad, was thinking about America. Might could get that off in England
You are finally coming to grips with reality in regards to your hero Canelo. Ginger would never fight Callum Smith in this form that he’s in. Neither will benavidez or plant. Callum smashes everybody at 168 and I believe that his best fights are North. In fact, I believe his only challenges are at 175. To the trained aficionados, any fight at 168 against Callum is a mismatch, because he has improved greatly since his fights in the middle part of the tournament. I know N’dam was just a middleweight who had been dropped before, but the way the scouse took him apart was pure skill and not power. Callum Smith is a complete fighter and a dangerous opponent for even Beterbiev.
My hero? I am an impartial boxing fan, seems that is hard for you to comprehend it. Look at you about Lomachenko. That is not the case on me Chris. You should have read my comments about the clenbuterol scandal and when Canelo relinquished the middleweight belt to have an idea
Benividas and Smith would be a terrific fight. Watching Saunders fight is like watching paint dry.
Saunders has already started to fade. He just doesn’t have the right body type or keep himself in shape enough to continue his style. He has a James Toney type of head movement. It’s already slowed down. He wants one big payday with Canelo. I hope Canelo doesn’t do it but he may just because of the undefeated record and snag another belt.
He’s just keeping that belt warm for a real fighter to take it.