Callum Smith vs. John Ryder - 23 November 2019

[tennessee]

Dont think anyone beats Callum Smith for a very long time.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Marcos Molloy will feature on a world title undercard in just his second professional outing.

The former Rotunda ABC amateur stunned fans at the Eventim Olympia in his home city of Liverpool as he comprehensively outpointed former Southern Area champion Jamie Speight.

Molloy, who many current paid fighters have tipped to be a success without the vest and headguard, is managed by Steve Wood and secured a 40 points to 36 win over the aforementioned Speight last Saturday.

Molloy will be back in the ring next month –– on November 23 –– having been confirmed as an addition to the supporting cast of Callum Smith’s WBA Super, Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond world super-middleweight title defence against mandatory challenger and fellow Brit John Ryder at the M&S Bank Arena.

https://tinyurl.com/y652py8m

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tom Aitchison to feature

[margaret thatcher]

Ya I'm sure fans were absolutely 'stunned' by him outpointing the 15-39 guy

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Autobarn]

I’m going. Smith is class. Ryder looks a bit small.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release: ‘Mundo’ prepared for “must-win” Liverpool homecoming

Callum Smith has admitted that his 2020 Anfield dream would disappear if he were to surrender his WBA World, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine Super-Middleweight titles to mandatory challenger John Ryder at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday November 23, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

‘Mundo’ returns home to fight in his native Liverpool for the first time since outpointing Sweden’s Erik Skoglund in September 2017 knowing that a win over his fellow Brit Ryder is vital if he is to secure a mega-fight against the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez or Billy Joe Saunders next summer.

“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.”

Smith (26-0, KOs 19), rated as the No 1 fighter in the 168lbs division, will fight for the first time as World Champion on home turf after blowing away Hassan N’Dam in three rounds last time out on the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Jr undercard in New York in June.

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 fellow Matchroom man Billy Joe Saunders who successfully defended his WBO title in LA last week, but Smith isn’t getting carried away and insists his focus is firmly on Ryder next week.

“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.”

Smith vs. Ryder tops a huge night of action in Liverpool.

Craig Glover (10-2, 8 KOs) takes on Chris Billam-Smith (9-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight title, Anthony Fowler (10-1, 8 KOs) meets Harry Scarff (8-0, 1 KO) for the WBA International Super-Welterweight title, James Tennyson (25-3, 21 KOs) and Craig Evans (20-2-2, 3 KOs) square-off in a final eliminator for the British Lightweight title, Tom Farrell (17-2, 5 KOs) clashes with Sean Dodd (16-5-1, 3 KOs) in a must-win encounter for both men, Liverpool Light-Heavyweight talent Thomas Whittaker-Hart (3-0, 1 KO) aims to end his first year as a pro in style and Liverpool Super-Lightweight Marcus Molloy (1-0) and Skelmersdale Welterweight Tom Aitchson (1-0) both go for their second win in the pro ranks.

[Delta Jay]

Just me who thinks that undercard looks great?

[margaret thatcher]

I wouldn't say great but it's defo solid--nice to see actual competitive matchups rather than 'stacked' but one-sided ones

[Delta Jay]

I wouldn't say great but it's defo solid--nice to see actual competitive matchups rather than 'stacked' but one-sided ones

That’s what I mean. Odds of Tennyson Evans seem really wide at the bookies, and the rest are close. I’ll be watching.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[handsofstone]

I'm happy to se Ryder get a world title crqck he's been in good form since moving up to SMW apart from the debatable loss to Fielding he's pulled off a string of good wins, he's come a long way since getting stopped from Blackwell

Still realistically Smith should have too much for size, skill and power for him, for all Ryder good form he's stepping right up in levels here, I can see Smith taking him apart without too much fuss, he's capable of blowing him away early or I can see him breaking Ryder down, it depends on how Smith chooses to go about his work but either way I'd be pretty amazed if Ryder can make this competitive

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[Ruthless-RKO]

He’s BACK!!

[ewenhay]

Paul will be appearing for a 4 rounder at heavyweight next

[cormack]

I’m going. Smith is class. Ryder looks a bit small.

ryder is smaller but messes his opponents around on the inside , v fielding it was so ugly .
Callum has a lot more power I think and should stand off and batter him in a few rounds - maybe 4/5 ..

[Glass Joe]

Not much interest in this fight on here (see why smith isnt a ppv star), 2 pages 80% rko press copy and paste.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Bigdogsnose]

Super middle looks terrible at the moment. I’m not totally sold on smith but he looks comfortably No1. Whilst Ryder looks, and is, a bit of a mid match there really isn’t much else. I like the look of plant, benavidez has looked a bit cack, Saunders is a name but he’s a mw who looked dreadful last time out.

If he can’t at least get one of them next them 175 surely awaits.

[Stuarty]

I really like Ryder he always comes across as a sound guy. He's certainly earned his shot as well after some solid wins and is in the best form of his career. Smith is probably a couple of levels above him though and too big as well so i can't see it ending well for him and i'm going for a Smith stoppage in 4/5 rounds. Hopefully Ryder will come again and Hopefully Smith will get some much needed big fights...

[cormack]

Not much interest in this fight on here (see why smith isnt a ppv star), 2 pages 80% rko press copy and paste.

its fair to say Callum Smith isnt a well known name as such ie BJS ( does he give blow jobs by the way )
or even eubanks who are all over the media clowning around.
He is clearly not into hype / instagram or whatever preferring to remain private , seems to have a lot of respect for his opponents during the build up with no trash talk as far as I recall .
After this fight his stock should rise and put him in contention for a major UK PPV against someone like the aforementioned or possibly Canelo might fancy it .

[Gnome]

The top 5 supermiddleweights in the world are all from the UK, according to boxrec. That's some stat!

[margaret thatcher]

Lol Rocky and Ryder at 4th and 5th in the world. They would be routine defenses for the likes of Benavidez and Plant I'd think.

[hitman_hatton1]

The top 5 supermiddleweights in the world are all from the UK, according to boxrec. That's some stat!

they do continue to outdo themselves on some of these ratings.