Callum Smith says promoter Eddie Hearn hasn’t given him any updates on whether his next fight will be against WBC and WBA [regular] light heavyweight champion David Benavidez next. Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) states that Hearn has a “few meetings this week,” and will let him know what the plan is for his next fight.
The way Callum is talking, sounding wishy-washy on the subject of fighting Benavidez (30-0,24 KOs), he doesn’t appear motivated to take that fight. When Smith wants a fight against a particular boxer, he’s talking up a storm, but in this case, he doesn’t seem enthusiastic about fighting ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez.
Eyeing the Big Fight
It’s easy to understand why Callium and Hearn wouldn’t want to fight David. Smith holds the WBO interim light heavyweight title and is in a position to challenge the winner of the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev 3 trilogy fight for huge money. Callum would be potentially throwing that potential option away for himself if he did fight Benavidez. It’s one thing for Callum to scrape by with a victory over Joshua Buatsi, but it’s a whole different kettle of fish taking on Benavidez. He’s not flawed.
I read Hearn like a book. He’s not going to let Callum Smith anywhere near David Benavidez, given that he’s 34 and in a position to get a lucrative payday against the Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy winner. Turki Alalshikh seems to like selecting British fighters. It’s a no-brainer that he’d want to use Callum as the next opponent for whoever emerges victorious in the third fight between Bivol and Artur.
He knows that if he pits Benavidez against the winner, they’ll likely lose to the talented ‘Mexican Monster’ quite badly. So, instead, he’ll pick Smith as fish food for one of them. The Brits will love seeing that match-up. U.S fans will be indifferent, but I doubt they’re views will even be considered. It’s a fight that would be entirely focused on the UK market. Feed the Bivol-Beterbiev an appetizer in Callum.
Hearn’s Silence
“Eddie [Hearn] says he’s got a few meetings this week, and he’ll let me know what the plan is. I don’t know. I’m ready to see what the next move is,” said Callum Smith to iFL TV when asked what the plans are for him to fight David Benavidez next.
“Regardless of who it is, I’m in a good position. So, it’ll be a good fight either way. He’s a very, very good fighter, someone I like and I rate,” said Smith about Benavidez. “We were both champions at 168 at the same time. It’s a fight that I always thought would happen at some point. It probably should have happened back then, but it didn’t.”
Does this sound like a person who is interested in fighting Benavidez? Smith doesn’t seem interested in that fight at all. He knows he’s in a good position to fight for big cash against Beterbiev or Bivol, and he’s not going to want to mess that up by getting bludgeoned into submission by David Benavidez.
“Now, we’re both at 175. It’s a fight that I like. I think stylistically, it should be a good one as well. So, we’ll see if that’s the next option. I’m sure it’ll be a good one. I have no idea,” said Callum when asked how far the negotiations with Benavidez have progressed.
“I’ll grab hold of him [Hearn]. He mentioned that he thinks he [Benavidez] might make me an offer from PBC, but there hasn’t been any offer as of yet. So, we’re going to have to sit and wait. Hopefully, things get moving this week, regardless of who it is. I want to know when the next fight is so I can get back in the gym. I don’t know what fight makes sense,” said Callum.
Last Updated on 04/22/2025
