BoxRec

Callum Smith's WBC super-middleweight title fight against Anthony Dirrell could be staged at Anfield in May, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

The Merseysider will battle Dirrell for the vacant title, which was relinquished by Badou Jack last month, and the home of Liverpool football club is being considered as a venue.

Smith has already fought at Everton's ground when he appeared on the undercard of Tony Bellew's WBC cruiserweight title win over Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park last May.

Dirrell is reluctant to travel, but will be obliged to come to Britain if Hearn wins the expected purse bids for the fight.

"I think that will go to purse bids," Hearn told Sky Sports. "Dirrell doesn't want to come to the UK, as his brother didn't. I don't think they are going to accept any offers.

"If we win the purse bid, they will come, they will have to come. We will wait and see on that I think.

"I would love Anfield. I would like to do it at Anfield."

I can actually see Dirrell pulling out if Matchroom win the purse bid.

jameswilson wrote:I can actually see Dirrell pulling out if Matchroom win the purse bid.

I can too.. rankings show, Avni Yildrim, or Andre (most likely won't travel either) next in line,

1 .- Callum Smith (GB) SILVER/BBB C/EBU
2 .- Anthony Dirrell (US)
3 .- Avni Yildirim (Turkey) INTL Silver
4 .- Andre Dirrell (US)
5 .- Zac Dunn (Australia) COMM
6 .- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Mexico)
7 .- Chris Eubank Jr. (GB)
8 .- Arthur Abraham (Germany) * CBP/P
9 .- Rogelio Medina (Mexico)
10 .- Martin Murray (GB) * CBP/P

Ruthless-RKO wrote:

jameswilson wrote:I can actually see Dirrell pulling out if Matchroom win the purse bid.

I can too.. rankings show, Avni Yildrim, or Andre (most likely won't travel either) next in line,

1 .- Callum Smith (GB) SILVER/BBB C/EBU
2 .- Anthony Dirrell (US)
3 .- Avni Yildirim (Turkey) INTL Silver
4 .- Andre Dirrell (US)
5 .- Zac Dunn (Australia) COMM
6 .- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Mexico)
7 .- Chris Eubank Jr. (GB)
8 .- Arthur Abraham (Germany) * CBP/P
9 .- Rogelio Medina (Mexico)
10 .- Martin Murray (GB) * CBP/P

Tesco Joe would love that

Marquez at Bramhall Lane

I'm a Liverpool fan so watching Callum Smith win a world title at Anfield would be great but if I'm honest I still just don't get the fascination with fights in football stadiums? If it's a Froch/Groves II, AJ/Wlad type fight that can sell 80k+ then fair enough, but I don't really see why this can't just take place in an arena.

Smith vs Yildrim wouldn't be a terrible Plan B...

ElJefe wrote:I'm a Liverpool fan so watching Callum Smith win a world title at Anfield would be great but if I'm honest I still just don't get the fascination with fights in football stadiums? If it's a Froch/Groves II, AJ/Wlad type fight that can sell 80k+ then fair enough, but I don't really see why this can't just take place in an arena.

The biggest arenas are around 20k, and that's just Manchester and the O2. All the rest around around 10k.

Clearly if the notion is there for the fight to do more than that a stadium makes sense.

If Dirrell pulled out he would be an idiot. Where do these people think their paydays are going to come from if not from an event like this?

dirk2686 wrote:

ElJefe wrote:I'm a Liverpool fan so watching Callum Smith win a world title at Anfield would be great but if I'm honest I still just don't get the fascination with fights in football stadiums? If it's a Froch/Groves II, AJ/Wlad type fight that can sell 80k+ then fair enough, but I don't really see why this can't just take place in an arena.

The biggest arenas are around 20k, and that's just Manchester and the O2. All the rest around around 10k.

Clearly if the notion is there for the fight to do more than that a stadium makes sense.

Does Smith/Dirrell do any more than 20k though? IIRC Smith has only headlined at the Echo once before, and that was a local derby against Rocky Fielding. It definitely doesn't anywhere near Anfield's 54k capacity. I prefer to see a packed out 20k arena than a half full 50k stadium personally.

People actually discussing this fight happening at anfield. It's just trolling by Hearn to grab a little headline.


Smith brothers have no fanbase and this fight won't sell out the echo.

Get real.

Naandrew wrote:

People actually discussing this fight happening at anfield. It's just trolling by Hearn to grab a little headline.


Smith brothers have no fanbase and this fight won't sell out the echo.

Get real.

Hence why I think David Price will be on there too amongst others....

Hearns lost the purse bid


Oh well Paul Smith can get his deserved world title fight at an field instead

Another very strong purse bid. Haymon's proxy won with $1.6m whilst Hearn bid $1.2m. It's a 60:40 split to the winner so Callum will get at least $640k. Given the current USD exchange rate, fighters may be a bit happier travelling over there.

Any news on this fight, Boxrec have it on May 27th in Michigan, that can't be right surely.