As Russ Anber prepares to work in Callum Smith’s corner against Canelo Alvarez this weekend, the Boxing Social columnist explains how ‘Mundo’ can shock the boxing world…
Remember the Alamo!
It’s been quite a journey for me working with Callum Smith – from wrapping his hands for the first time in August 2014 in Carson City to his showdown this weekend with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Along the way I’ve been in Callum’s corner for his amazing journey in the World Boxing Super Series, from his quarter-final fight in Liverpool against Erik Skoglund up to his memorable victory in Jeddah in the final against George Groves.
I was also with him at Madison Square Garden when he destroyed Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and all those nights have been building up to the fight he has craved for so long against Canelo. He’s been waiting for a fight like this. It’s what every fighter wants and waits for.
I first linked up with Callum because of my long-term working relationship with his trainer Joe Gallagher. Joe would often bring me over to work with his guys. Over the years I’ve worked Anthony Crolla’s corner, I’ve worked Scott Quigg’s corner and I’ve also worked in the corner for Callum’s brothers Paul and Liam Smith. I was with ‘Beefy’ when he won the world title and with Paul when he fought Andre Ward.
Anyway, once I’d wrapped Callum’s hands and he liked the way I did it, our relationship just developed from there. I rate Callum very highly. He’s got great height, he’s very technically sound, he has a good jab and is powerful with the right hand and the left hook. He can also fight on the inside and cover up very well. I really like the way Callum carries himself – he’s cool and calm when he’s under pressure.
Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA.
We can’t judge Callum on the John Ryder fight. That wasn’t his best performance by a long stretch. But look at the Hassan N’Dam fight – a dominating, patient performance with a one-punch knockout. He has that kind of debilitating power that means he is always a threat. That’s the Callum we need to see against Canelo and the Callum I think we will see. I think he’ll rise to the occasion.
The key for Callum is he’s gotta fight like he wants to win. If he fights just to survive or so he can say he put up a good showing that’s not gonna be enough. He has to commit to trying to win, which means taking certain chances. But he has to go for it because he’s not gonna get another kick at the can with Canelo. He has to make Canelo know he’s there, he has to make Canelo realise he’s in a fight. He can’t be happy with trying to squeeze out a points decision – he has to fight like he’s trying to and wants to knock Canelo out.
That’s how I feel. And I expect that’s what Callum will do. I don’t think he’ll fight like he’s just happy to be there. I think he’s gonna fight to win and to bring back all those titles. That’s the way he’s gotta approach it.
Anybody who has a physical advantage over somebody else – as Callum does in terms of his height and size against Canelo – has to exploit it properly. If you don’t then it can become a handicap and work against you. If Callum stands straight with his head in the air that will play straight into Canelo’s hands. Canelo has a hard time reaching you if you can control that distance. If you allow him to just walk in and leave your head up, or you try and tilt your head back, that’s a suicide mission.
Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA.
Callum needs to judge the distance properly, keep his feet well-spaced and stay behind the jab. He needs to slip Canelo’s shots rather than just lean away from them. The defensive moves he makes must keep him in a position to launch his own hard shots! That could make a big difference. He needs to keep Canelo on the end of his stick and make Canelo respect him. He needs to make him pay every time Canelo enters the perimeter. He can’t let Canelo enter the perimeter free of charge because he’s a sharp body puncher who can break you down with those body shots and force you to cover up. If he does that and Callum leans back then Canelo is going to stay in there and keep throwing. Callum has to catch and throw and maintain control on the inside and the outside.
He also needs to win the rounds big. I don’t believe in Texas they’re going to give anything to Callum that’s close. He has to look convincing and convince the judges that he’s the guy, that he’s not just the opponent who has come in to hand over his belts. I’ll be telling this to Callum, too, namely that he’s got to make it clear to the judges: ‘I’m the boss, you’ve got to pay attention to me’.
Can Callum do all of that? I believe he can. I think Canelo is going to be in for a surprise. I think he’s going to be surprised how hard he has to fight and I believe Callum has a helluva chance of pulling off the upset.
The only disappointment for me about this whole trip to work with Callum is that there won’t be a pool table in the bubble in San Antonio. ‘Beefy’ said they were gonna try and get one but it hasn’t worked out. I thought of not showing up when I heard the news!
At least they’ve got a ping pong table though so hopefully I’ll beat Liam at table tennis instead. I hear from my friends at Boxing Social that Beefy claims he’s beating me overall at pool and I’ve only got one thing to say about that: he’s delusional!
Russ Anber was talking to Luke G. Williams.
Main image: Matchroom Boxing USA.