BRAVE Callum Smith jetted home from his loss to Canelo Alvarez yesterday with his mangled arm untreated to escape getting stuck in the US for Christmas.
The Liverpool hero lost his super-middleweight world titles to magnificent pound-for-pound superstar Alvarez, 30, in a wide unanimous decision.
And Smith suffered a suspected detached left bicep from the huge right hands the Mexican repeatedly thundered into his guard.
Canelo admitted he noticed the gruesome injury from as early as the fourth round and targeted Smith’s dangerous left arm.
But the 30-year-old Brit refused to visit a local hospital in case he was delayed travelling home or use the painful wound as an excuse for his first career loss.
Smith, on a tough Texas mission away from daughter Alba, said: “I am devastated, I came to win but it was not my night.
“He was good. I have a bit of a sore arm, he kept hitting me in it, but I have no excuses.
“I want to go home and see my family and enjoy Christmas.
“I miss my little girl and I will decide what is best for me next year.”
Although Smith made the 12st limit comfortably he said he felt the weight cut affected his engine.
The 6ft 3in powerhouse added: “I didn’t feel as dominant late-on but I made the weight OK, no excuses.
“I’ve lost to a pound-for-pound star. We both turned up, he was just the better man on the night.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn will now try to get his WBO super-middle champ Billy Joe Saunders, 31, a crack at four-weight king Canelo.
But the Hatfield man will have stiff competition from Gennady Golovkin, 38, who still feels robbed from his previous draw and loss to boxing’s biggest draw.
Hearn also confirmed the all-Brit heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua, 31, and Tyson Fury, 32, has been verbally agreed.
The blockbuster bout is likely to take place next May or June after a breakthrough in negotiations.
Matchroom’s Hearn admitted ‘minor issues’ need to be resolved before an official date is set.
It is likely to be a two-fight deal worth a staggering £500MILLION, possibly in the Middle East.
AJ overcame his first obstacle by breezing past 39-year-old Kubrat Pulev last weekend, while Fury remains in a legal battle with Deontay Wilder, 35, over their failed trilogy of fights.
