WBA Champion Smith Interested in Jacobs Bout
As he waits for his opportunity to face some of boxing’s elite fighters, Callum Smith is in no rush to go after any unnecessary fights. If the WBA and The Ring Super-Middleweight Champion were to fight anyone, however, it would be against some of the top middleweights in the world.
Recently, Smith (27-0) expressed a desire to face Canelo Alvarez, Billy Joe Saunders and John Ryder in a rematch. One of the fighters also on his list happens to be Daniel Jacobs. The former WBA and IBF Middleweight Champion in Jacobs thinks Smith needs to be put to the test in order to believe his own hype.
“I love that fight,” Jacobs stated (via Boxing Scene) to Eddie Hearn during an Instagram Live session. “I think [Smith] hasn’t truly been tested yet, especially against a top-notch, world-level fighter. I’m not sure if it’s been hard for him to get fights at that level. But his last fight with Ryder, if I’m not mistaken, was a very close, tricky fight.”
Jacobs (36-2) is coming off of a win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in December. With Chavez Jr. coming in above weight, Jacobs beat him after five rounds. It was a rebound following a loss to Canelo in which he lost the IBF Title. Speaking to Hearn on Instagram, Smith would be interested in that type of fight.
“That’s a good fight,” Smith went on to say. “That’s a very good fight. But watching it, it sounds like he wants one more at the weight before [fighting me].”
Smith became a pro in 2012. “Mundo” won the 2017-2018 World Boxing Super Series Super-Middleweight Tournament, beating George Groves in the finals. As a result, he became WBA and The Ring Super-Middleweight Champion. Since then, he has beaten Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam via TKO and Ryder via unanimous decision.
Seeing how Jacobs is an established talent, Smith wouldn’t mind the challenge. This is especially true since a win could boost his profile.
“It’s a massive fight,” Smith continued. “You know, I’ve got a lot of respect for Danny. He’s a big name. He’s a good fighter inside the ring. Outside the ring, you know, he seems like a gentleman. He’s a good fighter, a former two-time world champion. I believe I’m the best in the world at 168 and I beat anyone in the division. He’s got a big profile in the States and in the UK. So, it’s definitely a fight where if we can’t get a fight with another champion, a unification fight, it’s probably the fight that makes sense more than any other one.”
Smith won silver in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and gold in the GB Championships in Liverpool in 2010.