Callum Smith will face Ruben Acosta for the WBC International Super Middleweight title at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 26. The Liverpool star is the hottest young prospect in British boxing with six consecutive first round wins, the latest landing him the English title against Patrick Mendy.
Now the 23 year old steps up the levels to face the vastly experienced Acosta, the 35 year old who challenged Robert Stieglitz for the WBO World title and knocked out former two-time Light Middleweight king Julio Cesar Vazquez, and Smith’s trainer Joe Gallagher is expecting his charge to handle the shift in class.
“It’s a huge step up in class for Callum,” said Gallagher. “He has not been a pro for even a year but we’re very confident he has the goods to tackle someone of Acosta’s class.
“Ruben has mixed with World-class company; he holds a great first round KO win over Vazquez, he’s been in with Anthony Mundine and he’s boxed for a World title. He’s got great experience and Callum hasn’t faced anything like this. He’s going to give him rounds and going to give him problems too, there’s no-one out there who has fought someone this good in just their ninth fight inside a year of being a pro.
“Callum is still wet behind the ears but there’s great faith in him from Eddie. We know the risks in the fight, I’ve looked on the independent ratings like BoxRec and he’s at number 38, so he’s well-respected and will have big ambitions of his own, just like Callum has.”
Smith’s clash with Acosta is part of a great line-up in the Steel City, with Kell Brook’s Welterweight blockbuster with Vyacheslav Senchenko. Brian Rose facing Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO Light Middleweight title while Olympic Gold medal hero Anthony Joshua MBE faces Paul Butlin in his second professional fight. There’s a welcome return to action for Kal Yafai, the exciting 8-0 bantamweight who boxes for the first time since injuring his bicep in his last outing in March, while popular Sheffield fighters Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Sam O’Maison also feature.
