Callum Smith on the Official Team Smith's boxing and educational academy at Rotunda ABC
Tuesday 6 December 2016 14:38, UK
British boxing's most successful brothers, the Smiths, are putting something back into the community with their boxing and educational academy at the famous Rotunda ABC in Liverpool, where it all started for the four of them. We caught up with the youngest of four, Callum, at their open day ahead of his latest Sky Sports Box Office appearance...
As usual, the Rotunda gym in Liverpool is alive with activity. This amateur boxing club has turned out more than its fair share of champions over the years and now, the city's foremost fighting family are giving something back. The Smith brothers have set up their own academy.
Callum, Paul, Liam and Stephen Smith are all hard at work, teaching, showing, encouraging. Anyone from any background or ability can now spend their mornings studying for a BTEC qualification in Sport and Construction, then spend the afternoons learning boxing skills, with some of the country's most experienced professionals.
"It's something we've always wanted to do, put something back in to amateur boxing," explained WBC super-middleweight mandatory challenger Callum.
"We all had good amateur careers and come from a good club - the Rotunda ABC. When the kids leave school, there's a few different courses they can choose; then they do the boxing side of it in the afternoons, and we'll help with the coaching side of it."
The coaches often don't get paid, there's not a lot of money in amateur boxing like there is in some other sports, so it's good to give back and try to find future champions
Youngsters from the age of 16 are able to enroll, with around 30 already having taken the opportunity in just the first month.
Over the course of the year, students will spend four mornings a week in the classroom at Oakmere College, with the rest of the time spent in the gym.
"We've had a lot of applications and I think it will only get bigger and bigger," said Callum.
"A lot of the kids here already box at some of the local clubs, so if we can offer a bit of advice and improve each person, then we're doing our job properly."
Being part of the local community is hugely important to the Smiths, all of them fiercely proud of their Liverpool roots.
"That's just the upbringing. We come from a good club, it's a very close-knit club, we're still always in here now. A lot of the coaches here are guys who boxed for the club in the past, but it's not just us - a lot of boxers like to give back to the community.
"The coaches often don't get paid, there's not a lot of money in amateur boxing like there is in some other sports, so it's good to give back and try to find future champions who can go on and do good things for the city."
Callum is one such champion. He defends his British super-middleweight title against Luke Blackledge next Saturday, on the huge bill in Manchester, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"I always wanted to defend that title, it's a good way to finish off the year with a bang, and then move in to 2017, the year I believe I can become a world champion. But I can't afford any slip ups - I have to look good on December 10, and that's the plan."
He's keen to keep active while he gets ready for his shot at the big time in 2017.
With Badou Jack and James DeGale finally due to meet in a unification showdown at 168lbs in New York on January 14, it's been a waiting game for Smith who seems to have spent an age as the mandatory challenger to the American's WBC title. He wants to make sure both men take notice.
"I'm next in line for the winner. I can't perform badly and then sit on the ring apron saying I want to fight the best Super Middleweight in the world.
"I've got to put in a good performance and show them I am good enough to be calling the likes of them out, and I am good enough to beat them. I've had three camps since becoming mandatory, and I feel I've improved with each one.
"The fights haven't been the ones I would have liked, but I've still been in the gym, still working with Joe (Gallagher) and the other lads, so I do feel like I'm a better fighter than I was last year. So when the world title shot does come I will be ready."
Watch Callum Smith v Luke Blackledge on the undercard of Joshua v Molina, on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event on your Sky remote or online here.
