CALLUM SMITH is in a curious position. Out in Nuremberg, preparing to boxย Nieky Holzken, a kickboxer adapting to boxing, in a fight he surely will win, a fight he must win. Itโs the World Boxing Super Series semi-final. Victory will guarantee Smith a shot at WBA super-middleweight world champion George Groves.
โItโs a huge fight for me,โ Smith said of Groves. โThereโs a lot at stake.โ
If he doesnโt beat Holzken โthe big fightโs goneโ. He continued, โItโs not just this fight, itโs what comes after it. It adds pressure, but the whole tournamentโs pressure. I had to win two fights to get to it, now Iโve got to win one, Iโm one step closer to fighting for a world title, which is something Iโve wanted to do for a few years.โ
Smith had been preparing for experienced southpaw Juergen Braehmer, who pulled out of the fight with a virus only on the Tuesday before the Sunday. He has had a long, intense training camp for a southpaw. That goes out the window as he has to adapt to a different opponent, albeit one far below Callumโs level. Smith is not only a former British and European champion as a professional, he was a world class amateur and is a big super-middle as well.
He has to resist looking ahead to the potential Groves fight. โIโve had a good camp. Iโve tried my best to not focus on that,โ Smith said. โJust concentrate on your own fight [but] it is hard not look at them. It is a huge fight. A world title fight and a domestic showdown.โ
He does not expect travelling to Germany to be a problem, even if Holzken is popular in the arena. โYou just learn to listen to your corner, if theyโre saying youโre winning, youโre winning. Just ignore their crowd and stuff. I just feel my amateur experience will help with that,โ he said. โIf it was in Liverpool I wouldnโt plan on leaving it close. Iโd like to win convincingly regardless of where it is in the world. ย If I can win well, Iโll win well.
โWhen I signed up for the tournament, I knew thereโd be chance Iโd have to travel. Itโs a worldwide tournament. I thought Iโd have to travel the first fight, they were trying to get [Anthony] Dirrell in it.โ
After defeating Erik Skoglund in their quarter-final, Smith needs a performance on Saturday. โI believe I beat a good fighter in Skoglund. I believe I slightly underperformed and he performed very well. I still beat him but I think people beforehand were expecting me to do an easier job. Because I didnโt, it was a big surprise. Whereas with [Avni] Yildirim, heโd been built up. People were expecting him to give Eubank a fight and when he didnโt it was a shock,โ Smith said.
โWhen I was watching [Rob] Brant against Braehmer I was thinking why didnโt I pick him? In the long run the Skoglund fight was good for me. Iโd had a long time out and I had a good 12 rounds against a good opponent, a big light-heavyweight. I think although I got a bit of criticism in the long run that will benefit me than Brant and if I possibly knocked him out.
โI did underperform but I got my career best win after a 10 month lay-off.โ