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Callum Smith vs. Erik Skoglund
Date	16 September 2017
Venue	Echo Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Tale of the tape
Boxer
Boxer	Callum Smith
Nickname	"Mundo"
Hometown	Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Pre-fight record	22–0 (17 KO)
Age	27 years, 4 months
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	167+3⁄5 lb (76 kg)
Style	Orthodox
Recognition	WBC; No. 1 Ranked Super Middleweight; The Ring; No. 4 Ranked Super Middleweight; TBRB; No. 7 Ranked Super Middleweight; WBC Silver super middleweight champion
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]

Background

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.

The fight

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]

Aftermath

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.

Undercard

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

Broadcasting

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

References

^ "Callum Smith vs. Erik Skoglund". boxrec.com/. Boxrec. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
^ "Callum Smith to fight Anthony Dirrell for vacant WBC title". BBC Sport. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
^ "Anthony Dirrell Trying To Get Callum Smith Fight Moved To Flint - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "Hearn: Dirrell Refused To Enter WBSS, So Smith Can't Go Either - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ Rathborn, Jack (6 July 2017). "Callum Smith announced as latest entrant to World Boxing Super Series". mirror. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
^ "Anthony Dirrell vs. David Benavidez in Play For WBC Title Anthony Dirrell vs. David Benavidez in Play For WBC Title". Boxing Scene. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
^ WBSS. "Smith to fight Skoglund for WBC Diamond belt as WBSS draw is set". WBN - World Boxing News. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ Gorst, Paul (9 July 2017). "Smith to meet Skoglund in inaugural World Boxing Super Series". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ "World Boxing Super Series: Callum Smith beats Erik Skoglund on points". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
^ "Skoglund Suffers Sparring Injury, Dimitrenko's Opponent Falls Out". 9 December 2017.
^ "Boxer placed in coma with bleed on the brain three months after Liverpool fight". Daily Mirror. 9 December 2017.
^ "BoxRec - event".
^ "MTG will be the exclusive home of the World Boxing Super Series in the Nordic and Baltic regions". europawire.eu. EuropaWire. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "TV PARTNERS". worldboxingsuperseries.com. World Boxing Super Series. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ Andrew Karlov (14 October 2017). "Groves vs Cox. Where to watch live". ringside24.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ WBN Staff (9 September 2017). "WBSS agree further European media rights deals". worldboxingnews.net. World Boxing News. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

Preceded by vs. Luke Blackledge	Callum Smith's bouts 16 September 2017	Succeeded by vs. Nieky Holzken
Preceded by vs. Shpetim Shala	Erik Skoglund's bouts 16 September 2017	Retired