Callum Smith says he is prepared to dig deep and guts out a win if he needs to when he meets European champion Hadillah Mohoumadi in a final eliminator for the WBC title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on tomorrow night.
Smith has raced to being one-step away from a World title shot at just 25 years of age, with 13 of his 18 wins coming inside the distance, and the unbeaten Liverpool star dominated the 12-round fights with Christopher Rebrasse and Nikola Sjekloca.
‘Mundo’ says that his ability has stopped him from having to dig deep to get his victories so far, but he’s more than happy to bite down on his gumshield if it means he lands a World title shot.
“Looking at his style I think he will try to put it on me and it is my job to stop him from doing that,” said Smith, who came in heavier than the Frenchman, 11st 13lbs 8oz for Smith to Mohoumadi’s 11st 10lbs 7oz. “If he does do that I’m always confident I can deal with it and fight on the inside and dig in when I have to.
“I haven’t really had to show that yet which I think is credit to myself, but if it is a tough night then I think I can stand and tough it out and I will win whatever way possible. But hopefully it will be a lot easier than people are expecting.
“Joe Gallagher has watched a lot more of him then I have. I have watch bits of his fights of him and I have seen his fights against James DeGale and Nikola Sjekloca. I think he is improved a lot over recent years since those fights; he has changed trainer, changed promoter and is on a good run of form.
“I have to expect the best possible version of him and I think even though he lost to DeGale he gave James a tough night and he made him work for three minutes of every round. He looks heavy handed so I can’t afford to underestimate him and I will expect a tough night and I have trained that way.”
Smith’s clash with Mohoumadi is part of a huge night of action as Rocky Fielding aims to bounce back from his loss to Smith with a tough fight against Rebrasse.
There’s a pair of tasty rematches on the bill as Scotty Cardle and Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd clash again for Cardle’s British Lightweight title, while Luke Keeler looks for revenge against Tom Doran with the WBC International Middleweight title up for grabs.
Two-time World Super-Middleweight title challenger Paul Smith begins his hunt for a third title tilt, there’s action for unbeaten quartet Tom Farrell, Reece Bellotti, Ryan Mulcahy and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Scott Fitzgerald while Gerard Carroll makes his professional debut.
Running order (subject to change) and weights (where available)
5.40pm 6 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
TOM FARRELL vs MARK McKRAY
(Liverpool) (Tottenham)
6.10pm 4 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
GED CARROLL vs JANOS VARGA
(Liverpool) (Dewsbury)
6.25pm 6 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
MARCUS MORRISON (11st 4lbs 8oz) vs JANOS VARGA (11st 3lbs 8oz)
(Manchester) (Hungary)
6.50pm 8 x 3 mins Featherweight contest
REECE BELLOTTI (8st 13lbs 3oz) vs JULIO BUITRAGO (weight n/a)
(Watford) (Nicaragua)
7.30pm 4 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
SCOTT FITZGERALD (11st 3lbs 12oz) vs ROBERT STUDZINSKI (11st 4lbs 2oz)
(Preston) (Llanelli)
—————————————————————————————————————————
Float
4 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
RYAN MULCAHY (10st 4lbs 1oz) vs JAMIE GORMAN (10st 2lbs 2oz)
(Liverpool) (Belfast)
—————————————————————————————————————————
Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm
10 x 3 mins Vacant WBC International Middleweight title
TOM DORAN (11st 4lbs 4oz) vs LUKE KEELER (11st 5lbs 8oz)
(Connah’s Quay) (Dublin)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins British Lightweight title
SCOTTY CARDLE (9st 8lbs 8oz) vs SEAN DODD (9st 7lbs 8oz)
(Lytham St Annes) (Birkenhead)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins Vacant WBC International Super-Middleweight title
ROCKY FIELDING (11st 13lbs 8oz) vs CHRISTOPHER REBRASSE (11st 13lbs 2oz)
(Liverpool) (France)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins European Super-Middleweight title and WBC World title final eliminator
CALLUM SMITH (11st 13lbs 8oz) vs HADILLAH MOHOUMADI (11st 10lbs 7oz)
(Liverpool) (France)
