It’s hard to imagine Artur Beterbiev losing.
That is the result of the 175-pound champion’s perfect resume: 19 fights, 19 knockouts. No fighter in the world has been more dominant than the imposing Russian based in Canada.
That said, some wonder if Beterbiev is ripe for a fall. Consider:
He will turn 39 on January 21, an age when most fighters are either on the decline or in their second career. He hasn’t been particularly active, with only two fights in the last two years (knockouts over Joe Smith Jr. and Anthony Yarde). His toughest tests could be yet to come. He will face former 168-pound champion Callum Smith on Saturday in Quebec City (ESPN, ESPN+) and appears to be on a collision course with fellow belt holder and top threat Dmitry Bivol. And he recently had surgery to treat an infection in his jaw bone, which contributed to his inactivity. He was originally scheduled to face Smith last August.
All of that could mean that Beterbiev’s record and his place among the best in the business are in jeopardy.
One expert believes Smith is going to pull off a surprise even though the Englishman failed badly the last time he stepped up in class, losing a one-sided decision to Canelo Alvarez in 2020.
“I picked Smith to win,” the source said, “but it’s a timing election. Beterbiev is almost 40 years old. He has always been hittable and Yarde’s punches backed that up. I also heard that the jaw infection/injury was really bad.
“[But] Yeah [Beterbiev is] In top form, Smith is in trouble.”
Punters evidently believe Beterbiev is fit. They made him a 4-1 favorite (average of multiple starts).
However, he looked vulnerable against Yarde until a hard right hand led to another knockout in the eighth round. The challenger was ahead on two of the three cards after seven.
The same can be said for his fight with the capable Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019, when Beterbiev rallied to score a 10th-round knockout in arguably his toughest outing.
Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) failed against Alvarez, but looked formidable before and after. He has won both of his fights following his setback, knockouts over second-tier opponents Lenin Castillo and Mathieu Bauderlique at 175 pounds.
And Liverpool are reloading with new coach Buddy McGirt. He obviously faces an uphill battle, but seems prepared.
“He’s a very good fighter,” Smith said of his opponent. “He is a three-belt champion. So his achievements speak for themselves. But I believe in myself. I always have.”
Beterbiev and his managers also believe in him.
The fighter didn’t say much at a press conference on Thursday, but made it clear that he has done the work necessary to be successful, saying: “I’m excited, as I am for every fight. For this fight we prepare as we always do, which is 100 percent.”
His head coach, Marc Ramsay, respects Smith but expects his protégé to remain undefeated on Saturday night.
“He’s a good fighter,” Ramsay said of Smith. “He is complete. He is number one for a reason. But at the end of the day, Artur has been boxing since he was 9 years old. He has seen it all.”
