Former WBA and RING magazine super-middleweight champion Callum Smith will kick off his 2022 in April.
The 31-year-old Liverpudlian has now left the 168lbs scene to concentrate on becoming a two-weight champion. ‘Mundo’ (28-1, 20 KOs) began his campaign at light-heavyweight last September with a chilling second round knockout of former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. It was Smith’s first fight since losing his super-middleweight titles in December 2020 to now undisputed king Canelo Alvarez.
Smith’s victory on the Anthony Joshua-Oleksandr Usyk undercard heralded the beginning of a new training partnership with Buddy McGirt. Having worked with Joe Gallagher since his professional debut Smith, just like older brother Liam, left the Gallagher stable for pastures new as both men look to become two-time world champions.
In a congested UK light-heavyweight scene Callum Smith finds himself in a great position for a shot at a world title at his new weight class in 2022. The WBC have the World Boxing Super Series winner ranked at two in their ratings, the WBA see Smith as their number four ranked contender and the WBO have him positioned at six.
It certainly feels like a matter of if not when before the heavy hands of Smith attempt to dethrone one of the three champions: Artur Beterbiev (IBF, WBC), Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith (WBO).
Callum’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently announced the first quarter schedule for Matchroom and DAZN.
An announcement on what shows will take place beyond March will be announced in due course.