Realistic opponent for Callum Smith's first defence?

What about Degale? Big name on the decline that if it was put as a chief support on a Brook vs Khan card or AJ's next fight would give more exposure to the casual market.

 

I think it’s guarantees that the plan with him is to get him fighting at Anfield next summer so you’ve got to work off that really. The AJ date rules it out as you’ve only got until the end of July to get Anfield. The other options SHOULD be a February fight night at the ECHO Arena or on a Brook - Khan undercard in the same month against Ryder/Sirtokin, get the mandatory out the way and then have a massive unification at Anfield in June/July against Benavidez/Ramirez/Uzcategui then even get him out again later in the year maybe in America in another unification.

For me I think the major problem Smith has had is inactivity. Get him out 3 times next year. I’ve got a sneaky feeling Eddie will hold on to him until the summer though and go straight in to a big Anfield showdown. He won’t want to risk his payday.