Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn speaks to members of the media and makes it clear that he is backing Callum Smith to score a spectacular knockout over Artur Beterbiev this weekend, before mentioning his intention to put that winner against Dmitry Bivol. See some excerpts of what he said below.
“Callum Smith is going to put out Beterbiev’s spark,” Hearn said. “You know, like a prone knockout… he’s going to be on the ropes and Beterbiev is going to come in like he does, he’s going to screw his feet, and Callum is going to do what he does best, which is a counter with left hook, one-hit knockout.
“(Beterbiev) is definitely declining, he’s like 39 years old. But it’s also a beast, it’s incredible. But sooner or later…
“I know Beterbiev is the favorite. I’m not saying he’s not the favorite, but I can see it in my own eyes: this one-punch knockout.
“No matter what happens, we will try to make Bivol face the winner of that fight… Mauricio Sulaimán is saying that that fight cannot be for the undisputed because the WBC will not allow him (Bivol) to fight for the WBC title because It’s from Russia.
“I respect Mauricio Sulaimán, he is my friend. We don’t always agree with everything. It’s hard because Dmitry is our friend and he’s probably one of the nicest, most peaceful guys you’ll ever meet. I feel like if I didn’t know Dmitry I probably wouldn’t feel so strongly about this. I do not believe that a man’s legacy should be defined by one or a small group of people who run his country and who do not agree with that regime or movement.
“I think if (Bivol) turns around and says ‘yeah, I support this’ then I’m all for it, but I think it’s very hard when a guy says ‘no, I don’t even know anything about that, I just am.’ I’m just training in Los Angeles, I’m a man of peace. I want everyone to get along.’”
