Callum Smith Still Chasing Canelo Rematch, But Is the Case Really There

Callum Smith is still holding out hope for a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, but looking at the current landscape of the super-middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions, the justification for a second bout seems incredibly thin — and the odds reflect exactly that.

Speaking recently on Fight Hub TV, the Liverpool native made it clear that he hasn’t moved on from his 2020 defeat to the Mexican superstar. “I’d love that fight again. I’ve always said that we didn’t see the best version of me,” Smith stated.

While the Matchroom-promoted fighter might feel he has unfinished business, the reality is that the rest of the boxing world has largely moved on. Fans watching their first encounter saw a largely one-sided affair. Smith looked overmatched against Alvarez, spending the majority of the 12 rounds backed up against the ropes, unable to impose his size or power.

Since that night, nothing has happened to suggest a rematch would yield a different result. While Smith has stayed active and picked up solid wins since moving up to 175lbs, he hasn’t delivered the kind of statement performance that would force the boxing public—or Canelo himself—to demand a second look.

It is true that Canelo has looked a step slower in his recent outings. Even in victories over Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia, the Mexican icon looked somewhat lacklustre, and his points loss to Terence Crawford made his decline even more apparent. However, despite that dip in form, Alvarez remains the biggest draw in the sport. He can still pick and choose his opponents, and there is simply no incentive for him to revisit a fighter he has already beaten comfortably.

For Smith, the immediate focus has to be on his upcoming clash with David Morrell Jr. on April 18th in his hometown of Liverpool. That fight will be a true acid test of where he currently stands in the division. If he loses to Morrell, any talk of Canelo is dead in the water. Even if he wins, he will still have a mountain to climb before a Canelo rematch becomes a realistic proposition.

If Smith is genuinely looking to avenge a defeat, a much more logical target would be Artur Beterbiev. The fearsome puncher stopped Smith in seven rounds back in 2024. Given that Beterbiev operates in the same weight class as Smith, a path to a rematch there is far more plausible. Yet, interestingly, Smith isn’t the one banging the drum for a second go at Beterbiev.

For now, Irish fight fans tuning in to see Smith’s return in April will be watching to see if he still has world title ambitions, or if he is simply chasing a payday that is no longer on the table.

Hassan David

The Irish Times Sports Section, Dublin, Ireland; Boxing Monthly Magazine, Cork, Ireland; Belfast Sports Media, Belfast, Northern Ireland