Callum Smith says he feels it’s disrespectful to him, to the fans and media who are already eager to see Artur Beterbiev, the IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight champion, take on the world champion. WBA, Dmitry Bivol, for the undisputed four-belt championship before even getting a chance to fight this Saturday night.
Fans looking past Smith
Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) is bothered that people are simply assuming Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) beats him, and are treating it like it’s a fight to keep busy for the undefeated unified champion instead. of a fighter with real chances of winning.
Beterbiev will fight in his adopted country of Canada at the Center Videotron in Quebec City, where he will defend against former WBA super middleweight champion Smith. The event will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ starting at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT.
People have this monstrous image of Beterbiev, and he partly deserves it. He has 19 fights, 19 knockouts and three world titles,” Callum Smith told iFL TV about his fight with Artur Beterbiev on Saturday.
Beterbiev may be injured
“I think people disguise and hide the fact that he has been injured and has fallen twice as a professional. He is not invincible. He’s a very good fighter, he’s a strong fighter offensively, but he can get hit and hurt.
“I faced Callum [Johnson] before that fight [with Beterbiev in 2018]. I saw it with my own eyes. If they can do it, then I can do it,” Smith said.
Beterbiev knocked down Callum Johnson in the first round of their fight in 2018, but then got careless in the second and was knocked down himself. However, Beterbiev came back strong to dominate the third and then stop Johnson in the fourth.
“They could have fought five years ago and they’re fighting now,” Smith said of Dmitry Bivol and Beterbiev signing for the next undisputed championship fight, assuming Artur will beat Callum.
Respect through victory
“The journalists said: ‘That’s the fight [Beterbiev vs. Bivol] we want to see.’ That’s a little disrespectful, but in terms of people wanting to see the fight, I’m not mad. It’s a good fight. I want to see it myself as a boxing fan, and right now they are the two champions of the boxing division. I think this weekend that changes.
“I think the timing of people wanting to see it is a bit disrespectful, but I hope I can ruin everyone’s plans,” Callum said.
