Smith vs. Ryder on November 23

Callum Smith’s next defense of the WBA (Super) super middleweight championship will come on November 23, as he will face the challenge of John Ryder.

I’m delighted to confirm I will be defending my World titles in my home City of Liverpool on November 23 against my mandatory challenger John Ryder live on @skysportsboxing @dazn_usa – press conference on Monday! pic.twitter.com/AhL3KcxO4N

— Callum Smith (@CallumSmith23) September 27, 2019

Smith claimed the WBA championship by winning the World Boxing Super Series in 2017-18, scoring decisions over Erik Skoglund and Nieky Holzken before pulling off a surprise seventh-round knockout of George Groves to win the tournament in September 2018.

Smith made his first title defense in June as part of the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz undercard, finishing Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in three rounds.

Ryder will come into this fight off four straight wins, claiming the interim WBA championship with a win over Bilal Akkawy in May as part of the undercard for Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs. He secured a shot at Smith one fight earlier, when he knocked out previously unbeaten Andrey Sirotkin in October 2018.