Callum Smith Returns to Undercard: Hearn Needs New Strategy for Aging Star

Callum Smith will finally return to action in two weeks against an opponent yet to be determined on November 30 at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham.

The 34-year-old former WBA super middleweight champion Smith (29-2, 24 KOs) will be fighting on the undercard of Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai, which is not very good for him.

Going from being a main event fighter to a flyweight undercard fight between Edwards and Yafai is a surprising fall for Smith, but it shows where his career is at.

Tuneups Don’t Help Callum

Smith has lost two of his last four fights since 2020, and the two Matchroom fights he gave him in between the first defeats didn’t help. Promoter Eddie Hearn may have skipped games and inserted Smith into the middle of Wolves immediately.

The flaws in Smith’s game that exposed John Ryder and Canelo Alvarez were still there when he fought 175-lb joint champion Artur Beterbiev on January 13.

Fans are determined to see the stork 6’3″ Smith return to the ring on November 30th, as many of them have given up on him 100%, viewing his career as a sinking ship that cannot be saved from sinking. . Promoter Eddie Hearn should not waste more fights by rebuilding with Smith like he did with Anthony Joshua because it will not help. This is good as it treats him well, and he will not improve.

A good thing would be for Hearn to pair Callum with a can of tomatoes on November 30 and set him up to fight the winner of the February 1 fight between David Benavidez and ‘regular’ WBA light heavyweight champion David Morrell.

If Smith can fight the winner of that fight at the main event of the season in Riyadh, it would be a great payday and give him a chance to get lucky and win. A win for Smith over the winner of that fight would set him up for a lucrative fight at 175 against either Beterbiev or Bivol.

Mundo is back 💥 @callumsmith23

Back in the ring in Birmingham ready to get back into the mix 👊 #EdwardsYafai live on @daznboxingNovember 30 pic.twitter.com/Hx5AcVFmXc

– Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 17, 2024