Russ Anber has been in Callum Smith's corner for over a decade.

From wrapping the Liverpudlian's hands and imparting nuggets of wisdom to lending a knowledgeable ear, Anber has been there for all the highs and lows across no less than three continents.

It's safe to say, besides Callum's three siblings, the highly-regarded Canadian boxing guru knows better than most what the former Ring and WBA super middleweight world champion needs.

While the man himself continues keeping busy in the gym, anticipating a fight date, nothing has materialised in recent months.

Potential matchups with David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde were mooted but the pair are now facing one another, headlining a busy Ring IV card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 22.

Joshua Buatsi, who he beat in a fight of the year contender on February 22 to win the WBO interim world title, has a fight booked for his Queensberry debut against Zach Parker on November 1.

So, what would Anber like to see next from the 35-year-old?

"I'd like him to get a break. He's always facing jack the giant killer, a Canelo Alvarez, Artur Beterbiev, an unbeaten Buatsi," Anber told The Ring.

"It's like every fight has to be a war with him and that wouldn't have been any different if they made the Benavidez fight - another killer. It'd be nice to see him have an easy fight one time maybe, but he's such a warrior who always brings action. It would've been nice to see another domestic dust-up with Yarde."

Supporting the sport's amateur scene at the World Championships in his native Liverpool, Smith told BoxingScene earlier this week there was no update on a return timeline.

"I'm in the same position as yourselves [waiting], the fight has been ordered but when it'll be, I'm not sure. I'm on my team daily to give me more updates but it's not as straightforward as you'd like at times, things don't move as quick, I'm just waiting."

"I'm in the gym, live a good life so when I do get the call for a fight date, I'll step it up and be ready again."

When asked to preview Benavidez-Yarde, Anber couldn't help but reminisce on how the heavy-handed Briton fared against Beterbiev in January 2023. He made it clear though, Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) cannot box the same way.

"Man, Benavidez is special. Yarde is good - don't get me wrong - but he took more punishment than any guy who has fought Beterbiev and fired back. He stayed in there toe-to-toe for eight rounds, full credit to him, no-one, not even Bivol, could do that.

"He can't box like that against Benavidez because his volume is even more than Beterbiev. Some guys are special, I don't know what it is, he dominated everyone at super middleweight, moved up to 175-pounds and that didn't make a difference. Some guys are special, do things at a different level and David's got a gift from the gods."