 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | 16 September 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Echo Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Smith defeated Skoglund via Unanimous Decision (116–112, 117–110, 117–111) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Callum Smith vs. Erik Skoglund was a professional boxing match contested on 16 September 2017. [1]
After WBC champion Badou Jack moved up to light-heavyweight, number one contender Callum Smith and number two ranked Anthony Dirrell were ordered to face each for the vacant belt. [2] However after disagreements over the location [3] and Dirrell's refusal to enter the upcoming World Boxing Super Series, [4] so the fight could take place in the quarter-finals, the fight was cancelled and the WBC allowed Dirrell and David Benavidez to the fight for the vacant title. [5] [6]
At the WBSS draft Gala, held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, Smith, who was second-seeded, chose to fight the unbeaten Swedish contender Erik Skoglund, who had been fighting light-heavyweight. Smith explained why he chose Skoglund, saying he felt Skoglund was 'stylistically the best fight' for him. [7] [8] On 19 July, Smith confirmed the fight would take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on 16 September 2017. It would also be the first fight of the series. Smith also admitted, on paper, Skoglund is the best boxer he would fight. Skoglund, who had previously fought in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany, said he had no issues with traveling to England, as he was looking to prove himself.
Skoglund came out fighting and blooded Smith's nose in the fifth round. Smith would take control in the latter rounds, dropping the swede in the 11th round after a barrage of big shots. The fight would go the full 12 rounds and Smith won a clear unanimous decision with scores of 116–112, 117–110 & 117–111. [9]
Smith moved in the WBSS semi final to face the winner of the Jürgen Brähmer vs. Robert Brant bout on 27 October 2017.
The next quarter final was held three weeks later between Chris Eubank Jr and Avni Yildirim.
Skoglund was set to face Rocky Fielding on the undercard of Tony Bellew vs. David Haye II but an injury to Haye got the bout be pushed back. On 8 December 2017, he suffered a brain hemorrhage during a sparring session in his hometown, Nyköping. He was put into a medically induced coma and had surgery. [10] [11] Skoglund was awakened from the coma in January 2018 and was seen responsive and walking with the help of a crutch.
Confirmed bouts: [12]
| Winner | Loser | Weight division/title belt(s) disputed | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
 Martin Murray |  Arman Torosyan | Super middleweight (8 rounds) | 4th round TKO |
| Zach Parker | Luke Blackledge | British super middleweight title eliminator (10 rounds) | 1st round TKO |
| Preliminary bouts | |||
| Adam Little | Reece MacMillan | Light weterweight (6 rounds) | 4th round TKO |
| Isaac Macleod | Danny Craven | Welterweight (6 rounds) | Points decision |
| Luke Willis |  Reynaldo Mora | Welterweight (6 rounds) | Points decision |
| Joe Wood |  Iliyan Markov | Light middleweight (4 rounds) | 3rd round TKO |
| Lloyd Campbell |  Michal Vosyka | Light middleweight (4 rounds) | 2nd round TKO |
| Mikael Lawal |  Jakub Wojcik | Cruiserweight (4 rounds) | Points decision |
| Brian Phillips | Kamil Jaworek | Featherweight (4 rounds) | 2nd round TKO |
| John Gillies |  Ferenc Zsalek | Heavyweight (4 rounds) | Points decision |
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Baltic & Nordic countries | Viasat [13] |
 Belgium | VOO [14] |
| Bulgaria | Nova |
 Canada | Super Channel |
| Germany | SAT.1 |
 Russia | Match! Boets [15] |
 Singapore | StarHub |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | TVMS |
 Turkey | Tivibu Sports [16] |
| United Kingdom | ITV |
 Ukraine | Inter |
Avetik Abrahamyan, best known as Arthur Abraham, is an Armenian-German former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF middleweight title from 2005 to 2009, and the WBO super-middleweight title twice between 2012 and 2016.
Anthony Dirrell is an American professional boxer. He was a two-time WBC super middleweight champion, having held the title in 2019 and previously from 2014 to 2015. He is the younger brother of 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell, who is also a professional boxer.
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