Realistic opponent for Callum Smith's first defence?

I think he’s the next one to move to PPV but I’d expect 1 or defences of refular Sky to reintroduce him to the Sky, more “casual” audience before taking him to PPV in a unification

 

I know there's more to it than size, but would you want to line Smith and Ryder up against each other and try and sell that fight to people who don't know who Ryder is?

I think the focus should be on building Smith's profile, as due to the way the WBSS panned out he hasn't quite got the rub you'd have expected for the winner. Skoglund was probably a lot better than given credit for, but after his injury he may never get the chance to prove that. Holzken was a no-win situation for Smith. Even the final with Groves was not the attraction it could have been with the location.

Ryan Burnett has shown that unifying titles on its own doesn't mean that much at the box office if people don't know who the other guy is. I think the onus is on the other titlists to build themselves up as viable claimants; as the Ring champion and WBSS winner Smith doesn't really need them to prove he is #1 at 168.

Leaving mandatory issues to one side, Eubank makes the most sense to me. He has name recognition, and even though he has been found wanting in his biggest fights, no-one has yet done a proper number on him. A bit of a wildcard alternative would be Chavez, who like Eubank has built a career off his old man's name.

Smith has legitimacy already; what he needs now is exposure, and he should look for the fights that are the easiest sell. There's plenty of time to chase career defining fights down the line.

 

Chavez is a brilliant shout. I know Eddie was trying to get him on DAZN weren’t he?

I think it will be Syrotkin/Ryder in February / March then a Benavidez at Anfield PPV.

 

Ryder aint a Matchroom fighter. Hearn would have no problem feeding him to Smith now. All he'll want is to put it on the best place for Smith exposure. Khan/Brook is now apparently next year if it happens, chief support to that, or Joshua's next PPV. Hard to guage Smiths popularity, he was getting high viewing figures around the Fielding fight, not sure if thats still the case, after a string of lacklustre fights, and ITVs poor handling of the WBSS.

 

Smith PPV, not a chance

The delusion is real. Maybe PPV for people buying the event from Liverpool, free to everyone else!

 

The plan was for there to be a light heavy tournament in the WBSS in which it was agreed with the 168 participants that the winner would go straight into the 175 format. Obviously, they’ve been unable to organise it but it gives some possible insight into Callum’s future plans. A step up might happen sooner than we think, maybe after just one defence.

 

Nice lad he is, and a talent but not someone who can market himself into a PPV star, lacks charisma and always very dull in pressers etc.

 

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...his-sights-on-benavidez.616155/#post-19446004

 

I like Benavidez. He’s got fast hands, and throws some nice combinations. The left hook to the body looks like a favourite shot of his. One criticism I have of him though is that he doesn’t move out of the pocket quick enough. He admirers his own work a bit too much & takes shots he could easily avoid if he just moved his feet. Smith would stop him imo.

 

Its the fight everyone wants. Hopefully a purse bid can be made of it, Matchroom and PBC arent going to be making any deals now.

 

Fielding and Benavidez both make sense as opponents

Callum stops them both.

Then after that, he should be moving up to LHW because it’s going to get harder and harder to make weight as he gets older.

 

Surprised bellew hasn't chucked his name forward yet!!!

Isn't that what his boxing brain usually does.

Can hear him now, I might be bigger than him but he has speed over me, and me an my elite boxing brain will find a way to overcome that.

Facccttttt.

 

Probably Fielding but I really hope it isn't

 

I just can’t see Rocky taking that fight just yet. He’s just rebuilt his career and became a “world champion”. I think he will happy with an easy defence or two of that belt before an Anfield PPV (yeah I know, blame Eddie not me) against Smith.

 

You're likely right. We all want the unification but we know how this game goes. With that in mind, the Ryder-Sirotkin winner is OK to me. I thought he maybe edged Fielding anyway to be fair