Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith 29-1 (21) knows he has a massive opportunity in front of him when he challenges WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev 19-0 (19) at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada on January 17.
The 33-year-old former WBA and Ring Magazine super middleweight champion has logged two wins, both by early knockout, since his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Mexican superstar and reigning undisputed 168-pound champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) in San Antonio, Texas three years ago.
Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev, 38, has cemented himself as one of the most dangerous men in boxing, knocking out every opponent he has faced with his hammer hands.
“It’s an exciting fight. It’s exactly what I’m in boxing for, to win world titles,” Smith told Boxing Social. “I get to win three if I win this fight. It’s a huge fight for me but it’s a fight I’ve always liked.
“I’ve known of Artur Beterbiev for a long time. I know his style and I feel it matches up pretty well with mine. I think from a neutral view it’s a pretty exciting fight but I’m fully confident of going out there, coming out on top and taking his belts off him.”
Beterbiev won his first world title in his 12th pro bout when he claimed the vacant IBF strap against Enrico Koelling by knockout in the final round six years ago. He claimed the scalps of Callum Johnson and Radivoje Kalajdzic in four and five round respectively before facing WBA champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a unification bout in October 2019.
Gvozdyk promised to be the toughest test of Beterbiev’s six year pro career. He was knocked out in 10.
Wins over Adam Deines (TKO10)and Marcus Browne (KO9) followed in 2021 before he met WBO champion Joe Smith Jr in June last year. Smith Jr didn’t hear the bell to end the second round. In his last fight in January he knocked out Anthony Yarde in eight rounds in a fight he was trailing on two of the judges’ scorecards.
Despite his fearsome reputation, there have been signs that Beterbiev is slipping. Yarde gave him all he could handle before wilting late in the fight.
Britain’s Smith think he is getting him at the right time.
“People make out he’s this beast,” Smith explained. “Part of him is, 19 fights with 19 knockouts. He’s got a great record and his achievements speak for themselves but he has been hurt twice and he does get hit quite a bit.
“He’s not an elusive, hard to hit fighter. I do see ways in which I believe I can win. If somebody’s there for me to hit, I definitely believe I can hurt them and when I’ve seen other fighters hurt them, I definitely believe I can do the same.
“I’m going over there with the full belief that if I catch him, I hurt him and if I hurt him I believe I can get rid of him.”
