Callum Smith vs. Hassan N’Dam - 1 June 2019

[Onetimeonly]

Yeah Smith would beat him up and I'd actually enjoy watching it! Lemieux is a total scrotum!

He's definitely ball cheese

[jamamb]

i doubt golden boy lets lem get beat up in that type of matchup before using him for canelo. though lem better actually start going through with fights...thats 2 straight pullouts now.

[Stuarty]

He's definitely ball cheese

[rd350lc]

tune up fight for smith, needs to keep lose , then hopfully big fight to follow

Tune up fight or not , I don't see it being competitive .

[joshj909]

Was this every officially confirmed? Boxrec still has him and Buatsi without a fight and it's less than two weeks to go.

[NoScoutingReports]

Was this every officially confirmed? Boxrec still has him and Buatsi without a fight and it's less than two weeks to go.

Eddie says a world championship fight is being announced tomorrow (now today) on the above video so presume this will be Callum Smith?

[NoScoutingReports]

..and there we have it.

[joshj909]

..and there we have it.

Not the most exciting but atleast it's no longer TBA. Now just Buatsi...

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Smith starts his reign as WBA 'super' champion with a first defence against Hassan N'Dam on the Anthony Joshua bill in New York.

The Liverpudlian stopped George Groves in the super-middleweight final of the World Boxing Super Series to claim the belt and faces French challenger N'Dam at Madison Square Garden on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office, with the WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine belts also at stake.

"I've had a good camp and I'm looking forward to walking to the ring as a world champion for the first time in my career," said Smith.

"I worked so hard to get where I am and now the task is to keep hold of my titles and target those big fights. To have my first defence at Madison Square Garden is going to be special and it's another box ticked for me, personally.

"People call it the Mecca of Boxing and I've always seen it as a venue that I'd love to fight at one day. The minute that there was a chance of it happening I pushed to make sure that I could be part of this show.

"N'Dam is a good fighter and he's a former world champion. He's only lost to three top fighters and he's got some great wins on his record. I had him over in England to help me prepare for George Groves so we know each other well.

"He's a good mover, has good footwork and can move around the ring pretty well. Experience is on his side and he's an awkward guy to face. Saying that, he's definitely a fighter that I should beat and get rid of if I'm on my game.

"I believe that I'm improving all of the time - I've even improved since winning the world title. I believe that I'm the best super-middleweight in the world. There are a few fighters in my division who probably disagree with that and rightly so. If I am the best on the planet then I should be able to get rid of Hassan N'Dam and look good doing it."

N'Dam said: "I am confident I will create a big surprise in New York. It is a true privilege for me to be given the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden for the first time in my life.

"Callum Smith is an excellent boxer with many qualities. As he is tall he can impose his own boxing style on most of his opponents. I have much respect for him both as a boxer and a person. I believe it will be a very tactical fight.

"I have always defended my titles abroad and I am used to pressure and know how to handle it."

Promoter Eddie Hearn said: "This is a huge platform and one that Callum fully deserves. He has established himself as the No 1 168 pounder in the world and will prove it at the Mecca of Boxing on June 1.

"N'Dam always brings the action and I believe this will be a high-level fight with plenty of fire. The mega fights await Callum and he can't afford to slip up here. I know he and trainer Joe Gallagher have prepared diligently for this challenge and he will be sending out a statement live on Sky Sports Box Office."

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: "We're very excited to add Callum Smith to a huge night at Madison Square Garden. He's rightly regarded as the world's best super-middleweight after that win over George Groves - and we can showcase more of our best talent on the AJ bill.

"Callum has already been named as a possible opponent for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and there are massive nights ahead of him if he defeats the proven Hassan N'Dam.

"It's going to be an action-packed evening for fight fans as Katie Taylor's undisputed world title fight and the classy Josh Kelly are also in action before AJ lights up New York in the main event."

[handsofstone]

I thought N'Dam looked good against Murray, wasn't a great fight to watch but he deserved his win and I didn't agree with the drawn card, probably about as good as i'd seen N'Dam look for a while, thought his pro career would've petered out after losing in the Olympics, just goes to show nobodies ever that far off a world title shot, its a poor fight for Smith, after beating Groves so convincingly i'd have liked to have seen him in another big fight, especially after the Skoglund and Holzken fights, it was time for Smith to get they big fights, I know he chose to take some time off as he just had a kid but considering its been known he's fighting on this card they could've had someone announced well before the week before the fight and a better standard of opponent

N'Dam's a faded MIddleweight, even though he's known to hit the canvas he usually always gets up, think Quillin and Lemuiex him down about 4 times each, Smith's a big tall strong Super Middle though, he'll jab the head off N'Dam and stop him brutally I think, wouldn't be surprised to see a blow out if he gets to work early and isn't ring rusty

[TheLeprechaun]

I thought N'Dam looked good against Murray, wasn't a great fight to watch but he deserved his win and I didn't agree with the drawn card, probably about as good as i'd seen N'Dam look for a while, thought his pro career would've petered out after losing in the Olympics, just goes to show nobodies ever that far off a world title shot, its a poor fight for Smith, after beating Groves so convincingly i'd have liked to have seen him in another big fight, especially after the Skoglund and Holzken fights, it was time for Smith to get they big fights, I know he chose to take some time off as he just had a kid but considering its been known he's fighting on this card they could've had someone announced well before the week before the fight and a better standard of opponent

N'Dam's a faded MIddleweight, even though he's known to hit the canvas he usually always gets up, think Quillin and Lemuiex him down about 4 times each, Smith's a big tall strong Super Middle though, he'll jab the head off N'Dam and stop him brutally I think, wouldn't be surprised to see a blow out if he gets to work early and isn't ring rusty

Smith is not a good technician. He's not jabbing ndams head off.

[horndawg80]

Ex sparring partners? Can we see a boring 12 rounder??? No wonder skybet are giving a boost for rounds 1&2.....

Surely this will go long if ex sparring partners?

[handsofstone]

Smith is not a good technician. He's not jabbing ndams head off.

I personally think Smith's a great boxer, he boxes within himself sometimes but on his day he's very good, don't you still believe Groves quit against him? Reckon my opinions on boxing differ from yours

[Ruthless-RKO]

I personally think Smith's a great boxer, he boxes within himself sometimes but on his day he's very good, don't you still believe Groves quit against him? Reckon my opinions on boxing differ from yours

Shame we had to wait this long for his ring return. He beat Groves back in September.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ex sparring partners? Can we see a boring 12 rounder??? No wonder skybet are giving a boost for rounds 1&2.....

Surely this will go long if ex sparring partners?

They might have just sparred a few times.

[TheLeprechaun]

I personally think Smith's a great boxer, he boxes within himself sometimes but on his day he's very good, don't you still believe Groves quit against him? Reckon my opinions on boxing differ from yours

Grove quit yeah. His shaking his head and staying down was one of the saddest moments in British boxing for me. I hate to see warriors pull a no mas but when the money has been made and the world title dream has been fulfilled, kids and wife at home, big house, big bank account etc, the hunger is just not the same and a guy who would have instinctively died before quitting, will then quit. He retired after the fight which tells you something. Groves from the first Froch fight absolutely starches Smith for me.

I think Smith was relatively easily out jabbed for a lot of the time vs skoglund and rebrasse. I had the rebrasse fight 117-110 and that included the knockdown. He's a tall fighter who needs to fight up close to land body shots, which he invests in well to be fair but in many respects he reminds me of cleverly. Touted at this great outside boxer early in his career but actually needs to be in mid/close range. His jab is poor, I don't see him jabbing anyone's head off. He is very big for 168 and that helps him a great deal but he's been underwhelming in a few fights and he's overrated now. Bookies are going evens for a potential fight between him and canelo. I for one hope he bombs ndam out because I'll be having a rare bet on boxing and it will be on canelo, who is currently at 4/5. Smith is so overrated right now.

[handsofstone]

Grove quit yeah. His shaking his head and staying down was one of the saddest moments in British boxing for me. I hate to see warriors pull a no mas but when the money has been made and the world title dream has been fulfilled, kids and wife at home, big house, big bank account etc, the hunger is just not the same and a guy who would have instinctively died before quitting, will then quit. He retired after the fight which tells you something. Groves from the first Froch fight absolutely starches Smith for me.

I think Smith was relatively easily out jabbed for a lot of the time vs skoglund and rebrasse. I had the rebrasse fight 117-110 and that included the knockdown. He's a tall fighter who needs to fight up close to land body shots, which he invests in well to be fair but in many respects he reminds me of cleverly. Touted at this great outside boxer early in his career but actually needs to be in mid/close range. His jab is poor, I don't see him jabbing anyone's head off. He is very big for 168 and that helps him a great deal but he's been underwhelming in a few fights and he's overrated now. Bookies are going evens for a potential fight between him and canelo. I for one hope he bombs ndam out because I'll be having a rare bet on boxing and it will be on canelo, who is currently at 4/5. Smith is so overrated right now.

Groves was felled with a bodyshot, think its pretty obvious to anyone who has a basic knowledge of boxing, his head might have been clear but if you've ever took a shot downstairs then you'll know 10 seconds isn't enough, 15 seconds maybe,, as far for Groves quitting, maybe you think anyone who isn't unconscious is a quitter??

As for Smith not being technical, tall upright boxer, good strong jab, great right cross, excellent bodypuncher and part of the Team GB set up, you sometimes make good points Lep but other times you talk nonsense

[Ruthless-RKO]

The guys same height as Ayy Jayyy..

[jamamb]

hes massive, him and canelo together at press conferences would look hilarious

[ElJefe]

I think if this was a quick first defence a few months after the Groves fight then people wouldn't really mind.

But because A) the first 2 rounds of the tournament were relatively straightforward for him; B) it's been about 8 months since the Groves fight and C) we were promised a monster undercard then it's definitely underwhelming.

Only plus point regarding Smith is that Eddie said he'll fight twice after June 1st to make up for the lack of activity following the Groves fight.

I also think Hearn is partly to blame for the lack of interest around Smith. He's a RING Magazine champion, WBSS champion, WBA champion. He won the British and European titles with 1st round KOs. He stopped one of the biggest names in British boxing in George Groves. That all suggests that he should be a star. I think Hearn is guilty of not putting him in good fights after he secured a high ranking with the WBC - he seemed to be #1 for for ages without getting a shot. Instead he was in tick overs and didn't always raise his game. That's on Smith as well though to be fair. Also, because the WBSS wasn't on Sky, Hearn hardly mentioned it. Even though his guy was in it as the bookies favourite and with the potential to be a breakout star he treated it as an afterthought and gave Smith none of the Sky hype machine. Short term thinking imo.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[mickey1975]

Great showcasing him on the one night of the year Liverpool doesn’t care about boxing.

[NoScoutingReports]

Great showcasing him on the one night of the year Liverpool doesn’t care about boxing.

good point, especially if they lift the trophy.

[3132DW]

Great showcasing him on the one night of the year Liverpool doesn’t care about boxing.

Would say this is more about showcasing him to Us market and maybe Carmelo fight.

Smith can’t keep making 168 forever at that size.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Smith (25-0, 18 KOs), Liverpool, England, 167½ pounds vs. Hassan N’Dam (37-3, 21 KOs), Monte Carlo, 166 pounds, 12 rounds for Smith’s WBA super middleweight title.