Callum Smith (right) and Artur Beterbiev – Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images
On Saturday, Callum Smith will get his long-awaited opportunity against IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Canada.
Smith, ranked No. 3 by The Ring at light heavyweight, is determined now that he is here to take advantage of his big opportunity.
“I’m here to do a job. “I’m here to be world champion again,” Smith (29-1, 21 knockouts) said at yesterday’s press conference. “I’m here with my team. And as long as I’m with them, I can be anywhere and feel at home. I’m in a good place mentally and physically and I’m ready to perform.
“This will be exciting. He is a very good fighter. He is a three-belt champion. His achievements speak for themselves. But I believe in myself. I always have. I think my best version can beat anyone in the world. I fully support it.”
This will be the 33-year-old’s third fight at the weight since losing to Canelo Alvarez in December 2020. However, it will also be his first fight in 17 months.
“I’ve always been in the gym, for the fight that was postponed in August and I was supposed to fight in March which I had to withdraw from, so I haven’t left the gym for 17 months, I’ve been constantly in the gym with (my trainer). Buddy (McGirt),” he explained. “The inactivity is not ideal, but it’s not like I’ve been out due to injury, I’ve been constantly improving as a fighter, so I don’t worry too much about that. In my last fight I was out for 11 months and it didn’t bother me too much. “There’s not much thought given to that, as long as you’ve had a good camp.”
During that time he has had the support of his three fighting brothers.
“When I was younger I was always asked, ‘Do I feel pressured being the youngest of four wrestling brothers?’ And I always felt the opposite and that I benefited, three very good fighters to look up to and they are the first people I look up to when I need advice,” he said. “I’ve gotten a lot better at just listening and watching over the years. Even this week they know when to leave me alone, when to support me, so it’s huge. We are a very close family, we have had a lot of success and I hope that this weekend we can contribute to that.”
After the only defeat of his career he decided to make several changes.
“Losing to Canelo highlights the areas to target. I made changes and the first was to go with Buddy and I feel like every day is a school day. (He) turned me into a complete fighter,” he said.
“I need to improve, I needed to make changes, I changed my weight category, I changed my vision of the sport, I set new goals for myself and the main objective was to become world champion in a new division. I’ve been working on this fight for two or three years. It is an opportunity that I do not intend to miss.”
Smith, who won the WBA and The Ring super middleweight titles, and the World Boxing Super Series tournament, has fought outside the UK before, although this will arguably be the first time he has been considered the “visiting” fighter. “.
Nearly 10,000 tickets are believed to have been sold for this event, the largest in the area in more than a decade since Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal fought in 2011. Many attendees will be hoping that Beterbiev, based in Montreal, can retain its titles. but Smith isn’t too worried about that.
“Yes, you have a point to prove, but regardless of whether they are cheering me on or against me, I have a job to do. When the bell rings, my attention is on the opponent,” he said. “It’s good to have them there cheering you on, but if they don’t cheer you on, I still have the same thing. You have tunnel vision once you’re there, so you don’t hear them as much either.”
This potentially delicious fight is one that excites McGirt.
“Fights like this are what boxing needs,” said the former two-weight world champion and 2019 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. “I would pay to see this fight, it’s the best fighting the best. “I think it’s great for boxing, we need a lot more of this.”
As if this fight needed any more incentive, there is believed to be an agreement in principle for Beterbiev to face WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Smith intends to upset the apple cart and insert himself into that fight for the vacant Ring championship.
Beterbiev-Smith, in addition to the preliminary fights, will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports at 3am GMT.
ALSO ON RINGTV:
Artur Beterbiev expects ‘dangerous fight’ in multiple title defense against Callum Smith – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Fight Picks: Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith – The Ring (ringtv.com)
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