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Callum Smith stepping up to a 'deep' division to win more world honours

After his points defeat to Mexico's Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, Callum Smith is heading back into the ring at light heavyweight later this year.

Callum Smith's hugely anticipated return to the ring later this weekend will be in a new weight class.

After his damaging December loss to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, the 31-year-old from Liverpool will move up to the 175-pound category.

It may seem a strange move after being heavily outpunched by Alvarez at super middleweight in Texas before Christmas.

However, it's a move that has been on the cards for a while and his ex-trainer Joe Gallagher made reference to a move up the weight immediately after the heavy defeat to the Mexican.

Canelo has since beaten Avni Yildirim and Billy Joe Saunders and is currently the WBA, WBC, WBO and The Ring super-middleweight champion.

Smith has yet to return to the ring after suffering arm and nose injuries in the loss to the once-beaten Canelo.
The heavy points defeat left him with a tear in his deltoid which saw his bicep swell up. However, he did not require surgery and after a period of rest back in the UK, Smith will be back out at light heavyweight.

'Mundo' will have his comeback screened exclusively on DAZN in the UK and US following Matchroom Boxing decision to leave Sky Sports for the streaming service.  

Eddie Hearn signed a five-year deal with DAZN in what is believed to have been a nine-figure deal, starting with Fight Camp.

Smith then made an Instagram post promoting himself on DAZN with 'Game Changed' along with the comment "175".

In June, his management company, STN Sports, stated that fight news for Smith was "coming soon" and that he was moving up to a "deep" light heavyweight division.

Gilberto Ramirez vs Sullivan Barrera

One fight Smith will be keeping an eye on is next month's Gilberto Ramirez vs Sullivan Barrera match up in Los Angeles.

Former WBO super middleweight contender Ramirez has made the step up to 175-pounds after his points win over Jesse Hart in December 2018.

Ramirez - undefeated from 41 fights - defeated Alfonso Lopez in the 10th round in December to set up a fight with the Cuban Barrera on July 9. It will be his first fight under Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy banner.

Two-weight world champion?

Smith is convinced he can also step up in weight and in an interview with Boxing News revealed he has set his sights on being a two-weight world champion.

"We haven't had many. I don't think Liverpool's had one," Smith said. "I've always had aspirations of being a two-weight world champion, it's always been a goal. I always knew I was big enough, I had the frame to do it.
"I believe I'll adapt to it well. I believe I'm good enough to compete at the highest level and win a world title.
"We don't all get there as undefeated world champions but as long as we get there that's the most important thing."
Smith will fight on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's showdown against Oleksandr Usyk, and faces Lenin Castillo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Read more: Anthony Joshua - Boxing needs me to fight Tyson Fury before I retire

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