Boxing Info: Calloway – Smith Hedline ESPN2

Holden Productions brings nationally televised world class professional boxing back to Springfield on Friday, August 10th when heavyweight contenders Rob Calloway and Terry Smith collide in a 10 round match-up at the Springfield Expo Center.

The event marks the first televised show in Spingfield since the April 7th Showtime event headlined by the late former world champion Diego Corrales, who lost a decision to Joshua Clottey. Corrales passed away one month later in a motorcycle accident.

For both Calloway & Smith, the August 10th event will seemingly serve as a hometown fight, as Springfield is half way between Calloway’s hometown of St. Joseph, MO and Smith’s hometown of Little Rock, AR.

“I don’t think either of us is going to have a major home field advantage,” said Calloway. “We are right in between our home towns, so I cannot see the site playing too much into the fight.”

Smith is looking at this fight a bit different.

“I am fighting in his hometown, and that’s fine with me. If I want to be a world champion I need to prove I can win at home and away from home. I welcome the challenge.”

Calloway, 65-7-1, 52 KO’s, is riding an eight fight win streak and is coming off two very solid victories in May, as he took out Mike Tyson look-a-like Cliff Couser in two rounds and than proceeded to stop former NABA cruiserweight champion Chris Thomas in three rounds on ESPN2.

“Since I’ve begun training with my new trainer Marshall Kaufman I feel like I have taken things to a new level,” said Calloway. “I’ve been training and sparring in the Philadelphia area with world champions like Steve Cunningham and Hasim Rahman, experiences that have brought my game to another level as I was not getting the same type of work training in Missouri.”

Smith, 30-2-1, 18 KO’s, has won two straight since losing a decision to heavyweight contender Jameel McCline. This past May he turned in one of his most impressive performances when he scored a 10 round decision win over former IBF world cruiserweight champion Kelvin Davis in an action packed fight.

“The Davis win was big for me,” said Smith “He was a former world champion and has wins over some very solid fighters both at heavyweight and cruiserweight. I think I showed that I am serious about my profession and that I am someone to look at in the heavyweight division.”

Calloway, who has spent his career fluctuating in weight, fighting anywhere from light heavyweight to heavyweight, feels that his size will not be a factor against Smith.

“I feel most comfortable at cruiserweight, which is where I think I will become a world champion,” said Calloway. “But when heavyweight fights come along that will really help advance my career I have to take them. I know Terry and he is a hard worker. I have the utmost respect for him and I know that boxing fans will be pleased with the fight that we put on.”

Since the loss to McCline, Smith knows that he has to prove himself in the heavyweight division once again, and he is hoping that an explosive win over Calloway will be one more step in the right direction.

“I take every fight serious,” said Smith. “One fight can set you back a long way and one fight can also sky rocket you to the top. I am ready for anything and the proof will be in the ring on August 10th.”

The August 10th event with feature seven bouts, including Springfield’s own Jerri Sitzes, the reigning NABF featherweight champion, in a six round special attraction.