Callum Smith, a British professional boxer, has set a goal for 2023 to become a two-weight world champion. Smith had the choice to stay in the 168-pound weight division and try to climb the ladder after his defeat to Canelo Alvarez, but he thought this was a very stupid idea. But the Liverpool native made the decision to compete in the light heavyweight division instead.
Smith has taken a step closer to achieving his goal as he was instated as the mandatory challenger for the winner of Arthur Beterbiev-Anthony Yarde by the WBC at their convention in November 2022. In March 2023, Smith is set to face Pawel Stepien, an unbeaten Pole, in Liverpool. Smith is confident that the time to become a world champion is now and that if it’s not now, it’ll be never.
Smith spoke to Sky sports and said, “I’ve always said a move to 175 pounds (light-heavyweight) is inevitable. I’m big enough and good enough to go up there and do what I’ve done at 168 (super-middleweight),” he said. “I believe I can become a world champion up there – and the thought of being a two-weight world champion is a goal I have set myself.
“I couldn’t really say I wanted to be a two-weight world champion before I was a one-weight world champion, but as soon as I won my world title, becoming a unified world champion or a two-weight world champion was definitely a goal I’ve set myself.
“I do think moving up to light-heavyweight will happen soon – whether or not after this fight there’s a rematch with Canelo or I move up to 175… Again it’s exciting, there’s a lot of exciting options out there for me. But a move up to 175 is definitely possible in the near future. There’s a lot of top fighters up there and I look forward to jumping in the ring with them.”
“I do believe you will see the very best in me on Saturday and the very best of me can beat anyone on the planet at 168 (pounds),” he said. “I always believed I’d be in this position, I always believed I’d be world champion.
“Your whole career you’re always driving to be in this position but there’s still work to be done – I’ve got to come out the winner. This is huge for me, my career, my family, it’s a massive fight. It’s time for me to walk the walk – I’ve always said the better the opponent, the better the version of me and I couldn’t find a better opponent to share the ring with,” said Smith.
In the boxing world, becoming a two-weight world champion is a prestigious achievement, and many boxers have set this as their ultimate goal. Katie Taylor, an Irish professional boxer, will also be bidding to become a two-weight world champion when she takes on England’s Chantelle Cameron in Dublin on May 20, 2023.
