Callum Smith Eyes Anthony Yarde After Stoppage Loss To Artur Beterbiev

Callum Smith thinks a matchup against Anthony Yarde makes sense after his stoppage loss to Artur Beterbiev.

Smith entered the title fight as the underdog, but he was oozing with confidence to beat Beterbiev. Yet, following the loss, the Brit plans to build himself back up and thinks a matchup against Yarde makes sense.

“That’s a good fight,” Smith told Boxing News. “Look, definitely, that’s a fight, outside the world champions, is probably one of the better fights to make in the division. So, look, it depends on the timing and whatnot. And it’s definitely a fight that motivates you. So, there’s a lotta good, say domestic fights, but they’re not really domestic level. So, it’s definitely a fight that is an option regardless of what decision I make on the future. I don’t know what his plans are. I don’t know whether he’s fighting anytime soon.”

Yarde also suffered a KO loss to Beterbiev, but if the fight is made, the winner would be right back in the title picture to face the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol.

But, with Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol set to fight, Callum Smith knows he will likely need to take a fight or two not for the belt, which he is fine with.

“I think it’s a bit of a weird division now, where all the belts are gonna be tied up,” Smith said. “So, it’s gonna leave everyone else left to sit and now make fights with each other. And now I’ve seen [a fight with Yarde] mentioned quite a bit. It’ll be a good show. I think they’re saying they’ll announce the fights soon, so it’s interesting to see what fights do get made on that, but, you know, I’ve seen that fight mentioned all the time. It’d be ideal in a different, you know, thing.

“We could fight for a world title, and the same with the other domestic ones, but the way it lies in the division now it doesn’t look like that’s gonna be possible anytime soon. So, I think that’s something you’ve gotta just get in there and fight for just pride and just if it’s a good fight, it’s a good fight. So, as I say, I’ll take some time away with my family, get married and then we’ll see what the future holds. But look, there’s a lotta good fights out there for me, regardless of what decision I make.”

Would you like to see Callum Smith vs. Anthony Yarde?