Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has provided an update on Callum Smith’s fitness and believes the WBC will soon confirm a fight with Artur Beterbiev.
Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) was set to return to the ring on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena, but he pulled out of his fight with Pawel Stepien after picking up an injury in training.
But 'Mundo' remains the mandatory challenger for ‘King Arthur’s‘ WBC light heavyweight world title, and promoter Hearn expects the fight to be called by the governing body.
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“It’s disappointing that Callum has had to withdraw,” he said. “We got the news the day before everybody else and he had to see the relevant specialists and he unfortunately had to withdraw from the fight.
“The injury is not too bad, but it’s going to keep him out for, probably, six to eight weeks.
“It’s disappointing because, like for any fighter, he’s done eight to 10 weeks of training out in America [with coach Buddy McGirt] and then been back in Liverpool, but the focus is now just on Artur Beterbiev.
“We’ve written to the WBC to inform them [of the situation], he’s the mandatory to Artur Beterbiev and we expect that fight to be called now and for negotiations to begin almost imminently.”
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