Saturday 18 November 2017 07:17, UK
Callum Smith should not be forced into an "unfair" trip to Germany for his World Boxing Super Series semi-final against Juergen Braehmer, says trainer Joe Gallagher.
Smith is yet to learn the location for his super-middleweight battle against German Braehmer, while George Groves and Chris Eubank Jr are expected to receive a British venue when details of their semi-final are announced next week.
Gallagher is wary of a return visit to Germany following contentious decisions in the past and believes neither Smith nor Braehmer should receive home advantage.
"For the semi-final, I do think it should be on neutral ground. I don't think it should be in England and I don't think it should be in Germany," he told Sky Sports.
"I think everyone would agree with me, no-one should have unfair advantage, and I don't think it would be fair on Braehmer if it was in Liverpool neither.
"Put it in Monte Carlo, Monaco, or you can put it in Dublin. I'm sure they would love it over there. Amsterdam is one, or even put one of them [semi-finals] over in America. But I don't think it should either be in Germany or the UK. It needs to be on neutral ground.
"For my personal coaching point of view of being in Germany and lost with [Matthew] Macklin against [Felix] Sturm, and then Callum Smith has been there and seen his brother Paul [Smith] lose to [Arthur] Abraham, so I don't think it's right.
"I think everyone would agree with me, no-one should have unfair advantage, and I don't think it would be fair on Braehmer if it was in Liverpool neither."
Braehmer booked his place in the last four with a dominant points win over Rob Brant and Gallagher is fully aware of the threat posed by the 39-year-old, who holds an amateur win over Ricky Hatton.
"I first come to know about Juergen Braehmer when he beat Ricky Hatton," said Gallagher. "Ricky Hatton was 17 years-old, went away from England and they came back - 'Ricky got knocked out in a round.' We were like 'no.' I spoke to Ricky, who was then only a kid at the time, and he said 'I have never been hit so hard'.
"This is no way by any means a straightforward job. It's a step-up in class for Callum Smith against a light-heavyweight, although he's coming down."
Smith could set-up another huge battle of Britain and Gallagher is edging towards Eubank Jr to emerge victorious from the other semi-final.
"It's a very, very difficult one to pick," said Gallagher. "You look at George Groves' boxing ability. If George Groves turns up like he did against James DeGale, Groves wins. Can George Groves wind the clock back that far and do that? It remains to be seen.
"I'm a huge admirer of Chris Eubank Jr, his work ethic, the way he gets in the gym, he absolutely drills himself into shape. His momentum and ego and everything else - they are both two hard fighters to beat.
"If I was to pick, maybe Eubank on a very close points decision."
