On June 26th in his home city of Liverpool, one of Britain’s most gifted young fighters, Callum Smith, takes the next step towards his world title dreams when he takes on former George Groves victim Christopher Rebrasse, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Arguably the most naturally gifted of the fighting Smith brothers, 25 year old Callum, who is now ranked #3 with the WBC, has spoken out to state his intention to hunt down British rival Groves, who challenges WBC 168 lb champ Badou Jack in September – and make the WBC title his own.
The ideal situation for Smith is to beat Rebrasse more emphatically than Grove’s wide unanimous decision against the Frenchman last September. In 29 pro outings however, Rebrasse has yet to be stopped.
Then a Groves win against Badou Jack in September potentially throws a spanner in the works of any unification rematch between Groves and IBF 168 lb champ, James DeGale – as Smith will ideally be Grove’s mandatory challenger and get in there first.
It’s a lot of ‘ifs’ but that’s boxing – and Smith is clear he is ready to fight whoever needs be to become champion.
He said via Sky Sports;
“There’s a lot of big fights out there for me in this division and the biggest ones are all on my doorstep. There’s a lot of talk about (IBF champion) James DeGale getting a rematch with Groves next Summer but hopefully I can get to Groves first and take his title if he beats Jack – and then maybe me and DeGale can fight?”
“But I’m just focusing on Rebrasse (right now). It’s a tough fight but then you’re gonna have to win tough fights if you’re gonna chase world titles down the WBC route as it’s such a great division. (But) this is the route we are taking and I believe I will become WBC world champion.”
Perhaps the one thing everyone is guilty of doing – Smith included – is overlooking Badou Jack, who has shocked the public once already by taking the belt from Anthony Dirrell back in April.
Groves has had a comparatively poor run of form lately and it’s not an exaggeration to say he has looked below-par in the two outings since the last knockout loss to Carl Froch.
So is it too much of a stretch to imagine that as the traveling fighter he drops a decision in Vegas on the Mayweather undercard to Badou Jack – a Money Team fighter in his adopted home city? I don’t think so.
It’s all hypothetical, of course, but one thing is for certain. Callum Smith is closing in on his own world title opportunity, and whether or not George Groves is 3rd time lucky in his latest title tilt or whether Smith has to go out and fight Badou Jack in America himself- he’s ready and intent on making a statement on the world 168 lb scene.
Expect him to impress against Rebrasse in Liverpool.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison