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Callum Smith Faces Unbeaten
Pawel Stepien March 11 In Liverpool
Callum Smith fights in Liverpool for the first time since
2019 when he faces undefeated world-ranked Pole Pawel
Stepien at the top of a stacked card at the M&S Bank Arena
on Saturday March 11 that features Liam Paro vs. Robbie
Davies Jr and Diego Pacheco vs. Jack Cullen, live worldwide
on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
The WBC’s No.1 ranked Light-Heavyweight Smith (29-1, 21 KOs)
returns home for a must-win clash with the IBF’s No.7 ranked
175-pounder Stepien (18-0-1, 12KOs) as he looks to secure a
mouth-watering showdown with unified WBC, WBO and IBF ruler
Artur Beterbiev later in the year.
Former WBA and Ring Magazine Super-Middleweight World
Champion ‘Mundo’ has won both of his fights at
Light-Heavyweight in brutal fashion following a move up in
weight after his points loss to pound-for-pound superstar
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez at the Almodome in San Antonio, USA
back in December 2020.
The 32-year-old Liverpudlian destroyed Lenin Castillo with a
sickening second round KO to return to winning ways on the
undercard of the first meeting between Oleksandr Usyk and
Anthony Joshua at the home of Tottenham Hotspur in September
2021 before taking out France’s Mathieu Bauderlique in four
rounds just under a year later in Saudi Arabia.
Szczecin’s Stepien remains unbeaten since joining the
professional ranks in December 2015, with the only blemish
on his 19-fight career being a draw with Marek Matyja in
2019, and the 32-year-old is ranked in the world’s top 15
with the WBO, IBF and WBA – picking up the Polish and IBF
Intercontinental Light-Heavyweight Titles in 2019 and 2021
respectively.
A stacked undercard sees Australia’s WBO Global
Super-Lightweight Champion Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) put his
title on the line against local favourite Robbie Davies Jr
(23-3, 15 KOs) following his sensational first-round KO win
over fellow Aussie Brock Jarvis at the South Bank Piazza in
South Brisbane last October.
One of the hottest prospects in American boxing Diego
Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) looks to impress on his first
appearance in the UK, stepping-up against Little Lever’s
Jack Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) in what promises to be an
all-action battle for the WBO International
Super-Middleweight Title.
Romford Heavyweight sensation Johnny Fisher (7-0, 6 KOs)
takes ‘The Romford Bull’ Army to Liverpool for the first
time as he faces Italy’s Alfonso Damiani (6-2, 2 KOs) over
eight rounds and local Light-Heavyweight Thomas
Whittaker-Hart (7-1, 3 KOs) aims to avenge his first loss
against Darewn’s Mickey Ellison (14-4, 5 KOs) in a rematch
for the Central Area Title.
Warrington Lightweight talent Rhiannon Dixon (7-0) squares
off with Wombourne’s Vicky Wilkinson (5-0-1) for the
Commonwealth Title and Oldham’s Aqib Fiaz (10-0) takes on
Yeovil’s Dean Dodge (9-2-1, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at
Super-Featherweight, plus there’s action for Hyde’s Campbell
Hatton (9-0, 3 KOs), Chester Middleweight Paddy Lacey (7-0,
1 KO) and Billericay Middleweight George Liddard (1-0, 1
KO).
"Pawel Stepien is just what I need going into the Artur
Beterbiev fight," said Smith. "He hasn't ever tasted defeat
and he's ranked in the top 15 by 3 governing bodies. He is
certainly no walkover and I know I can’t afford to make any
mistakes. The prize waiting for me should I win means you’ll
be seeing the best from me on March 11."
“We always love returning to Liverpool for one of the best
atmospheres in the UK, and we’ve got a stacked card from top
to bottom for you all on March 11, said Matchroom Sport
Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Callum Smith can’t afford any
slip-ups against Pawel Stepien – he’s next in line to face
unified World Champion Artur Beterbiev and that’s a fight I
really fancy him in if he gets past the unbeaten Pole.
“We’re spoilt for choice with this cracking undercard, Liam
Paro looked sensational last time out and Robbie Davies Jr
finally gets the big fight he’s been craving. Diego Pacheco
against Jack Cullen can only be fireworks and ‘The Romford
Bull’ Army are going to be bringing all the noise for Johnny
Fisher! Thomas Whittaker-Hart can’t afford another loss this
early in his career and there’s so much more on offer. Watch
it all live around the world on DAZN.”
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