Callum Smith says he can handle the pressure of being called the ‘hottest young prospect’ in boxing as he faces Vladine Biosse at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on July 12.
Smith has raced to 11-0 in with nine stoppage wins and returned from injury against Tobias Webb in Cardiff in May.
The 24 year old has caught the attention of the boxing world in a big way with promoter Eddie Hearn expecting Smith to be rubbing shoulders with the best fighters in the 168lbs division by the end at the beginning of 2016.
Smith, who went on a remarkable run of six first-round KO wins in 2013, has stepped up in his recent fights beginning with his first-round demolition against former Prizefighter champion Patrick Mendy for the English title in September, then claiming his WBC crown against former World title challenger Ruben Acosta before his first defence against Webb, and he’s expecting another tough test in his hometown.
“I think I have a lot to do but it’s nice to be named as one to watch,” said Smith. “I don’t believe I am the hottest prospect in World boxing as there are some great young fighters out there, but I must be doing something right if people are talking about me in that way.
“You are only as good as your last performance and if I am poor against Biosse then the same people who think I am one of the ones to watch will say I’m not as good as they thought. I just need to keep working hard in the gym and listening to my trainer Joe Gallagher and just beating whoever Eddie puts in front of me.
“I saw his last fight, he’s an experienced southpaw and another step up for me which is what I wanted to end the season with. I’m looking to perform well again and it looks like a distance fight for me. He’s only been stopped three times in 20 fights and last time out against J’Leon Love he went to the tenth round so it looks like it could go a few rounds, I like the early KOs but I do think that I need to get some rounds and he’s been brought in for that reason.
“In boxing one punch can change a fight and that has been the case with me. He’s a southpaw so it might take me a few rounds to get used to him and he’s been around so it’s good experience for me.
“Every fight I have had has been the toughest one, I think I’ve stepped up the opposition a lot over my last three or four fights but nothing changes behind the scenes for them, we work hard and make sure everything is right and if it is, then I am confident of getting the job done.”
Smith’s clash with Biosse is part of a great night of action in Liverpool as Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly continue to move towards a rematch as they face their second fights at Cruiserweight against Julio Cesar Dos Santos and Alejandro Valori respectively.
