David Price believes Callum Smith is catching Artur Beterbiev at the perfect time in his career and sees him winning on Saturday.
Retired former heavyweight contender Price says Callum (29-1, 21 KOs) is catching up to 38-year-old IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) while you are getting older.
Beterbiev can be hit, Price says, and he believes that if Smith can take enough shots, he can come out on top. The two will headline ESPN this Saturday, January 13 at the Center Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.
Smith: Reborn at light heavyweight?
As far as we know, Smith seems to have improved since moving up to light heavyweight a couple of years ago. He had been fighting at 168 and looked like Death had warmed up, gaining weight for those fights.
In hindsight, the 6’4″ Smith should have moved up to 175 after winning the tournament in 2018, and would have been spared the indignity of being defeated by Canelo Alvarez. The money had to be good for Callum, so it wasn’t all bad to lose.
Is it the right time?
“Beterbiev is a beast and he’s beaten everyone, but there are chinks in his armour, and if there’s anyone who can expose that, it’s Callum,” David Price told Boxing News.
Beterbiev hasn’t fought in a year since his war with Anthony Yarde in January 2023, and we don’t know how that long layoff will affect his performance. Smith has been inactive since his last fight against some no-name guy.
Smith’s Size and Accuracy Advantage
“He’s an accurate puncher and a great man for the light heavyweight division,” Price continued, praising Smith. “Obviously his performance against Canelo [wasn’t good]. I think they are two different styles.”
With Beterbiev, it only takes one big punch on his part to turn out Smith’s lights, and he’ll be willing to take his punches to score his big knockout on Saturday. Smith is huge for the 175-pound division and could easily compete at cruiserweight. That would explain why he looks so pale and exhausted recently.
“Beterbiev is there to receive a clean shot. We saw it with the fight with Anthony Yarde. The timing is perfect. Beterbiev was in the same Olympic Games as me. I think he is the same age as me. “I’m 39 years old and he can’t be too far from me,” Price said.
“It definitely has more miles on it. “Callum wouldn’t have taken this fight unless he thought he was winnable,” Price said.
