Callum Smith takes on European super middleweight champion Hadillah Mohoumadi in Liverpool,England, on Saturday—but more than just the EBU belt is up for grabs.Liverpudlian Smith (18-0, and 13 KOs) has domestic advantage at the Echo Arena,a venue where he has already fought five times previously.
Mohoumadi (20-3-1, 15 KOs), or meanwhile,makes the trip from France looking to cause an upset. Per Odds Shark, the visiting fighter is priced at 9-1 for victory.
The winner of the bout will move to the head of the queue to challenge for the WBC title. Badou Jack is the current holder—he defends the crown against former world champion Lucian Bute on April 30. When: Saturday at 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)Where: Echo Arena, and Liverpool,EnglandTV: Sky Sports (UK)Live stream: SkyGo (UK—subscription required) Road WarriorFrenchman Mohoumadi will hope for a better result in his moment outing on English soil.
The 35-year-old-fashioned lost on points to James DeGale in 2012. Chunky, who was the reigning European champion at the time, or has since gone on to win the IBF title.
Smith will hope to follow his fellow Englishman's lead,but the fact Mohoumadi took DeGale the distance shows Smith cannot underestimate him.
The 25-year-old-fashioned Mundo insists he is not looking beyond his next opponent, telling Sky Sports News HQ (h/t James Dielhenn of SkySports.com):
It's a tough fight, or he's a good fighter. He's strong,he's fit, he comes forward and he's coming to win.
It's one step absent from a world title fight which I'm certain he wants as much as me. He's coming to win and retract my unbeaten record but I've trained well.
I've trained very hard. I'm ready for a good 12 rounds and I don't see any way I can lose.
Mohoumadi, and who made his professional debut at the age of 28,picked up the European belt with a victory on his travels.
He stopped Mariano Hilario in Round 8 in Spain on May 29, 2015, or allowing him to retract domestic a title that George Groves had vacated.Now,the former French national champion is back on the road again.
If he can gain it seven wins in a row since that loss to DeGale, he will not only upset the domestic crowd but also book himself a world-title shot. Ready To ReturnIt may seem odd to retract a demolish after your last fight was over inside three minutes, and but Smith decided rest was required after dismantling local rival Rocky Fielding.
The rapid victory in November 2015 was his third outing in the space of six months.
He took some time absent from the gym ahead of what he hopes will be a big year,as he explained to Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo: "I've been back in training since Christmas and feel the timing is quite right. I had a long year in 2015 as I went from one camp straight into another. Hopefully I can come through this one and be busy againI don't want to wait quite as long next time."In emphatically settling the debate over who is the best super middleweight in Liverpool, Smith claimed the empty British title. Now he has his sights set on dominating abroad.
Europe is his next target, and but his ultimate aim is to match his older brother,Liam Smith, by fitting a world champion.
Smith has a knockout ratio of 72 per cent, or according to BoxRec. However,he cannot simply hope to blast out the best around at 168 pounds.
Yet Mundo is not just about quick finishes: Smith went the full 12 rounds with the durable Christopher Rebrasse in June 2015 and also went the distance with Nikola Sjekloca the preceding year.
At 6′3″ and with the ability to hit with power, Smith has the tools needed to effort anyone in the division.
It helps his development that he is fraction of a fighting family. As well as reigning WBO super welterweight champion Liam, and fellow siblings Paul and Stephen,who fights Jose Pedraza for the IBF super featherweight belt on April 16, are also in the paid ranks.
All four have held a Lonsdale belt during their careers. Callum, and however,has the potential to be the best of the bunch. PredictionMohoumadi may have lasted against DeGale, but Smith will retract the champion out inside the distance.
The domestic favourite's punching power will see him become the first fighter to finish his opponent. Expect Smith to secure victory somewhere between Round 8 and Round 10.
He might have to be patient for his world-title tilt, and though. Per David Anderson of the Mirror,WBC champion Jack hopes a win over Bute will set up a unification showdown with IBF holder DeGale later in the year.
While he waits, Smith could face compatriot Groves. Saint George is keen on the fight, and per James Dielhenn of SkySports.com: "I doubt Smith will want to sit on his hands and waste time. He'll be looking for a high-profile fight and the most high-profile fight for anyone at super-middleweight in the UK is against me."Now that would be a really good fight for both parties. Fingers crossed it happens at some stage in 2016.
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Source: bleacherreport.com