Tony Bellew says James DeGale is Callum Smith's only serious super-middleweight threat
Sunday 3 April 2016 08:43, UK
Tony Bellew believes James DeGale is the only super-middleweight in the world who could cause Callum Smith problems.
The cruiserweight contender was working for Sky Sports at the Echo Arena on Saturday night, when Smith blasted Hadillah Mohouma inside two minutes.
The win made the 25-year-old the WBC's No 1 contender and Bellew immediately put current title holder Badou Jack behind DeGale in the pecking order.
He's someone who can pick his way in, out-hustle you. He's a southpaw, he's awkward and also has underrated power himself. He's the full package, Chunky.
"The best way to explain it is to look through those fighters and there's only James DeGale who poses him a threat," he told Sky Sports.
"Every other fighter? How do they beat Callum Smith? How does Arthur Abraham beat Callum?
"He can't out-box him, he can't out-fight him and he can't out-muscle him.
"Then we go to Badou Jack, a guy who likes to box at range and work his way in. If Callum wanted to he could dictate at range with his jab, but he's also got the power to take him."
DeGale is defending his IBF world title against mandatory challenger Rogelio Medina on April 30, live on Sky Sports, and is confident he will get a unification shot at Jack - if he beats Lucien Butte on the same card.
And Bellew believes the Londoner is much more dangerous than experienced world champions like Felix Sturm or Arthur Abraham.
"I know Chunky, he hasn't had as many fights but he's someone who can out-hustle you," he said.
"He's someone who can pick his way in, out-hustle you. He's a southpaw, he's awkward and also has underrated power himself. He's the full package, Chunky.
"Someone like Arthur Abraham is one dimensional - he'd eat him alive! Callum Smith standing in front of Felix Sturm would look like light-heavyweight against middleweight, two divisions apart.
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