What next, for Callum Smith?

[brilo33]

He retired 4 years ago.

yeah I know.. but as a comeback big money fight. Will be massive payday and he is in good shape

Froch is happy retiring with that big Wembley win..

i think smith would beat froch

[stujones]

I have to say in this day an age where the Ring Magazine refused to Sanction Johsua cs Parker that they sanctioned this fight. I'm not being an after timer and dismissing Groves - but not sure really how he was universally considered #1 beyond all doubt based on his Chudinov win, Chudinov was a weak champion.... then we had an easy defense against a barely sanctable Cox and then the Eubank win.

How was Groves universally beyond all doubt ranked ahead of Ramirez and DeGale I am not sure.

Anyway, in terms of what next for Smith.... would love to see the Braehmer fight actually happen..... other than that, is Anthony Dirrell still on the scene? I'm not sold that Smith will be a long reigning champion. Groves looked old, and I think a sharper fighter can still make Smith look silly.

[samwbr]

yeah I know.. but as a comeback big money fight. Will be massive payday and he is in good shape

Froch is happy retiring with that big Wembley win..

i think smith would beat froch

Good fight in their prime . Carl would do him tho.

[brilo33]

Froch is happy retiring with that big Wembley win..

i think smith would beat froch

Good fight in their prime . Carl would do him tho.

deffo be interesting fight though , i think people are just realising how good the micky mouser is

[lillywhite14]

Froch would stop him

[samwbr]

i think smith would beat froch

Good fight in their prime . Carl would do him tho.

deffo be interesting fight though , i think people are just realising how good the micky mouser is

Micky mouser fornicate off with that shit

[lillywhite14]

Always get the feeling Callum operates at no more than 70% of his capability!

Weird I know, and I’m sure it’s not true but I just get the impression he does enough and doesn’t bring it all out.

[lillywhite14]

What was with the mayor chatting bollocks by the way? ‘Dominated the fight from start to finish’? Behave

That and Bellew lying with his ‘everyone said Smith had no chance, I knew he’d do it!’ bollocks!

Most people here were saying Groves was up against it.

[brilo33]

Good fight in their prime . Carl would do him tho.

deffo be interesting fight though , i think people are just realising how good the micky mouser is

Micky mouser eff off with that poo

i mean it with respect mate, i touted up callum from the start , i rate the boy highly

[Bigdogsnose]

I would have thought fielding would be an obvious opponent. Two world champions from Liverpool. Granted the first fight was an obliteration, but you'd like to think Rocky can make a better fist of it this time.

[Deserter]

I'm not sold that Smith will be a long reigning champion. Groves looked old, and I think a sharper fighter can still make Smith look silly.

I'm with you Stu, though ironically don't see many from the existing pack who represent that type of threat, so he could last longer than anticipated.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I have to say in this day an age where the Ring Magazine refused to Sanction Johsua cs Parker that they sanctioned this fight. I'm not being an after timer and dismissing Groves - but not sure really how he was universally considered #1 beyond all doubt based on his Chudinov win, Chudinov was a weak champion.... then we had an easy defense against a barely sanctable Cox and then the Eubank win.

The Ring probably wanted to reward the winner.

[Noxy]

I don’t get why anyone cares about the Ring belt. Where does their credibility come from?

[tiny_acres]

I don’t get why anyone cares about the Ring belt. Where does their credibility come from?

Boy it use to be the most respected belt. No politics at that time with it.
Now its just a trinket

[dookus]

Smith has some world-class attributes - his reach, power, patience, durability and killer instinct all look top drawer.

I still think there are weaknesses there to be exploited, however - Groves was noticeably quicker of hand and foot and there were sustained periods during which he was getting sucked into Groves' fight. In the end Smith prevailed because he could take shots in the exchanges which Groves could not, but a fresher fighter may well been able to outbox him over 12.

[Coco]

I have to say in this day an age where the Ring Magazine refused to Sanction Johsua cs Parker that they sanctioned this fight. I'm not being an after timer and dismissing Groves - but not sure really how he was universally considered #1 beyond all doubt based on his Chudinov win, Chudinov was a weak champion.... then we had an easy defense against a barely sanctable Cox and then the Eubank win.

The Ring probably wanted to reward the winner.

The super middle division is very weak at the moment, the big fights are at middle or light heavy

[fightfan95]

Next fight will probably be either Rocky or Chudinov

It looks like DeGale v Eubank Jr is set, so the winner of that after at Anfield

And then a unification bout between Ramirez or Benavidez

[danconnollyeire]

What was with the mayor chatting bollocks by the way? ‘Dominated the fight from start to finish’? Behave

That and Bellew lying with his ‘everyone said Smith had no chance, I knew he’d do it!’ bollocks!

Most people here were saying Groves was up against it.

Yeah, I thought Groves would win but I had it 60/40, by no means clear. I think the general conscientious was 65/35 something like that; quite a few fancied Smith/knew Groves was vulnerable. Bellew's talking sh1t but that's nothing new

And yeah, he never dominated the fight, they were pretty much neck and neck 'til the awesome finish

[Ruthless-RKO]

Next fight will probably be either Rocky or Chudinov

It looks like DeGale v Eubank Jr is set, so the winner of that after at Anfield

And then a unification bout between Ramirez or Benavidez

Benavidez is now champion in recess following the cocaine test.

One of the Dirrells will fight Yildrim for the now vacant WBC belt.

[fightfan95]

Next fight will probably be either Rocky or Chudinov

It looks like DeGale v Eubank Jr is set, so the winner of that after at Anfield

And then a unification bout between Ramirez or Benavidez

Benavidez is now champion in recess following the cocaine test.

One of the Dirrells will fight Yildrim for the now vacant WBC belt.

Oh yeah I remember now

[jameswilson]

Smith was definitely under rated by some after the first two series fights. He got criticised for apparently not adapting against Skoglund. I found that odd as he was a clear winner and put Skoglund down in the last round.

[nitro5912]

Next fight will probably be either Rocky or Chudinov

It looks like DeGale v Eubank Jr is set, so the winner of that after at Anfield

And then a unification bout between Ramirez or Benavidez

Apparently it was going to eubank jnr, but he done something to annoy the president of the WBC, so as a fornicate you he gave it to yildrim whom jnr has already wiped out.

Benavidez is now champion in recess following the cocaine test.

One of the Dirrells will fight Yildrim for the now vacant WBC belt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Next fight will probably be either Rocky or Chudinov

It looks like DeGale v Eubank Jr is set, so the winner of that after at Anfield

And then a unification bout between Ramirez or Benavidez

Benavidez is now champion in recess following the cocaine test.

One of the Dirrells will fight Yildrim for the now vacant WBC belt.

Apparently it was going to eubank jnr, but he done something to annoy the president of the WBC, so as a eff you he gave it to yildrim whom jnr has already wiped out.

Yeh, I remember posting the list yesterday.

[Counter-puncher]

Smith was definitely under rated by some after the first two series fights. He got criticised for apparently not adapting against Skoglund. I found that odd as he was a clear winner and put Skoglund down in the last round.

yeah fair play he definitely fought better in the later rounds- how much of that was him adapting, and how much simply Skoglund tiring a bit and getting easier to find- I couldn't say. I can't say I recall a particular tactical adjustment that he made or anything like that.

[ElJefe]

Listened to Hearn's IFL interview today. He said something about Smith having about 3 fights left, which I thought was crazy. Do remember some huge figures getting quoted around the WBSS so maybe he's made a fortune from that, but from a career stand point I don't see why he'd be looking to retire. Eddie seemed to suggest that he'll want a fight at Anfield, a unification fight and then he's done it all.

I think there's a hell of a lot more he can do. I understand someone like Bellew winning a world title, having a defence then a couple of big money fights before retiring, but he was having tough fights since domestic level. And he's older than Callum. Smith now has a somewhat unique mix of experience and freshness for a 28 year old, he hasn't really had too many tough fights yet he's #1 in the division. He could fight the likes of Benavidez, Ramirez and Uzcategui in the next 2 years and be a unified champion by the age of 30. All winnable fights for him. And with his size you'd think he could easily fill out into a solid light heavyweight and have a crack at a couple of big fights at 175.