by Jamie Leadbitter
CALLUM SMITH is hoping to show fight fans he still has plenty left in the tank ahead of his important light heavyweight clash with Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh on Saturday night.
The career of Smith, 30-2 (22 KOs), has been plagued with inactivity, fighting just once in 2021 and 2022, before colliding with undisputed king Artur Beterbiev in 2024, who dominated the Liverpudlian from the opening bell.
Smith has, however, reached the pinnacle of the sport one weight class below. Seven years ago in Jeddah ‘Mundo’ won the WBA super-middleweight world title after stopping George Groves and two years later faced 168lb king Canelo Alvarez who inflicted Smith’s first pro defeat.
After a successful tune-up fight at the end of last year, Smith is hoping to make another run at light-heavyweight glory which starts against fellow Brit Buatsi, 19-0 (13 KOs), this weekend.
Speaking to Boxing News this week, the 34-year-old responded to those who are questioning his return to the ring.
“When I’m inactive and not fighting it’s easy to forget about me,” he said. “I can see where people are coming from, I was very active and on a very good run and then it just kind of stopped. My whole career has been very stop-start.
“I have been a world champion, I don’t have to do the sport anymore, so people question how much I actually want it, but as far as training has gone – it’s gone well. If I didn’t believe I was as good as what I was then I genuinely wouldn’t be standing here.
“I believe I’m good enough to be a two-weight world champion and now I’m very close to achieving it. I’m very motivated and excited to get in there and do the job.”
