WBA Super 168lbs champion Callum Smith may be on the verge of winning the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes.
A bout with the Mexican superstar is widely regarded as the richest prize outside of the heavyweight division and it seems that Liverpool’s Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) has moved to the head of the queue for that opportunity. IBF super-middleweight champion Caleb Plant had previously appeared to be Canelo’s opponent of choice.
Talks are underway for a Canelo-Smith bout at either the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, or the Alamodome, San Antonio, on either December 18 or 19 as the Mexican begins life as a free agent, having unchained himself from his contract with long-time promoter Golden Boy and the streaming network DAZN last week.
One intriguing element of any deal is that the potential fight would be broadcast back on DAZN due to Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn’s affiliation with the network in the US. Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) would appear to have no qualms with that option on a one-fight deal at least.
According to Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN Deportes, WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez would defend his WBC flyweight crown on the same card with the postponed WBC interim 135lbs title fight between Luke Campbell and Ryan Garcia also likely to feature.