Callum Smith Should Move Up To 175-Pounds, Says Hearn

Last month at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Callum Smith was dominated over twelve rounds in his clash with Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

The two boxers battled for the WBC, WBA super middleweight world titles.

Smith, who three years ago won the World Boxing Super Series tournament at super middleweight, is now looking to move forward after suffering the first defeat of his pro career.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who works with Smith, would like to see the boxer move up to the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds.

Before the clash with Canelo, the British fighter had indicated that it was getting tougher to make the super middleweight limit of 168.

Hearn feels the best direction at the moment is to pursue a world title in a new weight class.

“I just think he needs to move to 175-pounds and become a two-weight world champion,” said Hearn to IFL TV. “He’s had an amazing career, he’s had a great run, he’s made a lot of money.

“But he still has got challenges that he wants to overcome, and still has goals to achieve. I would love to see him move up to what’s an amazing 175 division.”

At light heavyweight, there are several opportunities in a loaded weight class.

Canada’s Artur Beterbiev holds the WBC and IBF world titles. The WBA title is held by Dmitry Bivol, and the WBA’s secondary champion at the weight is Jean Pascal. Next month, Joe Smith and Maxim Vlasov will battle for the vacant WBO title. There are also fighters like Gilberto Ramirez, Sergey Kovalev, Joshua Buatsi, Badou Jack, Beketemir Melikuziev, Eleider Alvarez, Jesse Hart, and several others.

Smith, through Hearn, is aligned with streaming service DAZN – which also hosts bouts involving Bivol, Kovalev, Melikuziev and Buatsi compete.