Callum Smith believes that facing Canelo Alvarez will bring the best out of him as a boxer.
Alvarez is a four-division champion, but Smith holds the WBA and Ring belts at super middleweight, where the pair will fight (this weekend globally on DAZN, excluding Mexico).
Smith does not regard himself as the underdog, saying on DAZN’s 40 Days that: “Every ranking puts me number one in the world, whether it’s Boxer, Boxing News, ESPN, they all have me number one.
“I’ve always believed the better the opponent the better the performance from me.”
Looking back at his win over George Groves in the World Boxing Super Series final, he thought it proved to kickstart to his career.
“Going into it, I was a slight underdog. People were picking me to lose so that obviously made it a little bit more satisfying as well but I knew me, at my best, could beat him. I feel like that was the start of the second part of my career.”
After winning his titles in 2018, he regards the fight against Alvarez as the biggest defence of his reign.
“It’s been over two years since becoming world champion and this is the first that is a huge meaningful one,” he said.
“I’m number one in the world, he’s moved up to 168 to my weight division, so as much as he’s a very good fighter and he’s achieved all he has, he’s challenging me for my title and I don’t plan on giving it up.”
Smith’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, puts the lack of big fights down to his boxer’s fearsome reputation.
“When they’re that good, it’s difficult to land the big fights,” Hearn clarified.
“Because he’s so big, he’s so strong, he punches hard. Sometimes your career can pass you by or your peak can pass you by. The great news for Callum is that the peak is now. He needed this fight to bring the best out of him.”
Episodes 2 and 3 of "40 Days" are scheduled for this week. You can watch on DAZN's YouTube channel.