Boxing
Eddie Hearn eyes October fight for Callum Smith, bigger bout in 2020
With the fourth quarter of 2019 rapidly approaching, Eddie Hearn sees a big closing to the year for Callum Smith and an even larger start to 2020.
"We are planning Callum's next fight for October time before a huge fight in the spring, most likely at Anfield," the Matchroom Boxing promoter told Sky Sports, referring to the football stadium in Liverpool, England, for that 2020 bout.
Hearn added that although the recent Matchroom Boxing signing of WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders gives Smith, the WBA "super" super middleweight titleholder, a fellow undefeated dance partner in the same country, that they must weigh all options for “Mundo” first.
"Obviously in signing Billy Joe Saunders we have the perfect opponent for a huge domestic fight,” Hearn continued, “but Callum is also in the mix for all the big names on DAZN including Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin."
Smith's trainer Joe Gallagher additionally told Sky Sports that the 29-year-old Smith (26-0, 19 KOs) is considering “big-name U.S.-based fighters” first.
"Callum has a few lucrative offers on the table,” Gallagher said. “He is considering them because they could lead to big fights. His head has been turned.
"We're now waiting to see what Eddie can offer Callum,” he continued. “Callum wants big-name US-based fighters like Sergey Kovalev, Canelo, David Benavidez and Caleb Plant."
After defeating George Groves to win the World Boxing Super Series and take the WBA “super” super middleweight title last September, Smith made his first title defense via a third-round TKO of Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in June.
