Callum Smith vs Anthony Yarde set for Saudi this summer

Callum Smith vs Anthony Yarde set for Saudi this August

According to Ring Magazine, Callum Smith (31-0, 22 KOs) vs Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) is in talks for an all-British battle this August in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Both Brits are coming off decent domestic wins, with "Mundo" Smith upsetting unbeaten Joshua Buatsi in February, and Yarde winning the trilogy 2-1 over former IBO world champion Lyndon Arthur in April.

The Ring has learned that they could face each other in another exciting instalment of the successful Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 vs 5 series.

Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn and Queensberry Promotion's Frank Warren have both submitted lists of five fighters each to make up the next head-to-head event.

The first 5 vs 5 event in June 2024 was a huge success. Warren's stable managed to shut out Matchroom completely, winning 10-0, as Nick Ball edged Raymond Ford; Hamzah Sheeraz beat Austin Williams; Daniel Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic; Willy Hutchinson dominated Craig Richards; Zhilei Zhang destroyed Deontay Wilder in five.

Callum Smith vs Anthony Yarde would be an fantastic fight for the 5 vs 5 event, with both boxers highly-rated, and there could even be the potential of them fighting for the WBO world light-heavyweight title.

Unified WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world light-heavyweight champion Dmitriy Bivol has already vacated his WBC belt in order to complete his trilogy with Artur Beterbiev later this year instead of his mandatory obligations to the Interim champion David Benavidez, who has no been elevated to full champion.

Liverpool's Smith is the current WBO Interim champion and there's reports that Bivol may even relinquish his WBO belt too, which would promote "Mundo" to full champion and allow him to defend against Yarde, who has twice challenged for world titles before. Neither man has won a world title up at 175lbs yet.