Bob Arum hasn’t given up hope on Joe Smith facing Canelo Alvarez at some point in 2022. The veteran promoter, the man guiding Smith’s career, will watch his fighter defend his WBO light-heavyweight crown against Steve Geffrard this weekend, and he hopes an impressive performance can see him land a fight with boxing’s biggest attraction.
Smith had been set to defend his belt against Britain’s Callum Johnson, but a positive COVID test for the former world title challenger saw that fight postponed. Smith has several options available at 175lbs if a Canelo fight can’t be finalised, but Arum is prepared to wait and see what move the Mexican icon makes next.
"The ball is in Canelo's court," said Arum when speaking with Sky Sports. "Canelo is the biggest attraction in boxing now, he's a tremendous talent and a tremendous fighter, and he more or less picks his opponents. He also tries to get the best guys. So, he could fight [Artur] Beterbiev, he could fight Smith, but it's up to Canelo, and I think he's looking to do a fight in May."