Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) is expecting an altogether different fight when he takes on Liverpool’s Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KOs).
The two clash in the main event at the Vidéotron Centre in Québec City, Canada. The January 13 fight will be broadcast live on ESPN in the United States. Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch the action on Sky Sports Main Event. Beterbiev vs. Smith can be watched – with a Punching Grace subscription in Canada.
In the buildup to fight night, Top Rank on ESPN released a documentary titled Beterbiev vs. Smith: A Tale of Ten Punches. The video sees both fighters and multiple boxing journalists delve further into past fights of the two boxers. Towards the end of the documentary – the two provide their thoughts on facing each other.
“You never know how it’s going in fight,” said the Russian-born Canadian. “It’s always like different.“
“Don’t think he has fought anyone like me,” said Smith. “I mean, I haven’t fought anyone like him.“
From the looks of it, the two seem to have an appreciation of the other’s accomplishments and abilities. When they meet in the ring, it will mark the end of a long wait. Originally scheduled for August 19, the fight was postponed due to dental surgery that Beterbiev had done.
Although Smith is a former world champion at super middleweight and has had two brutal stoppage victories since moving up. We believe that he will be no match for Beterbiev. The former Olympian will have too much power and eventually overwhelm the Liverpudlian. We predict a stoppage victory for the unified champion sometime before the tenth round.
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