Callum Smith insists he has the ability to knock out Artur Beterbiev ahead of their world light heavyweight title showdown in Canada.
Smith will attempt to dethrone undefeated WBC, IBF and WBO champion, Beterbiev in the early hours of Sunday morning in Quebec City.
The former super middleweight world champion heads in as a 7/2 outsider to pull off a stunning upset, but the 33-year-old maintains that at his best he is capable of knocking out the home favourite, who has 19 straight wins all by knockout.
“I’m a big believer in my own ability,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“I know how good I am, I know how good I can be, and providing the best version of me turns up, I believe I beat anyone on the planet.
“I’ve backed that up a lot of times before. Obviously I had the one slip in my career, but the best version of me knocks the best version of Artur Beterbiev out.
“I’m doing everything I can in camp to make sure the best version of me turns up.
“I’ve always had that focus not to worry too much about my opponent and let them worry about me.”
‘Mundo’ has won two on the bounce, both by stoppage since moving up to light heavyweight after losing his then-WBA super middleweight crown to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in December 2020 and will become just the fourth current British male world champion, behind Tyson Fury, Chris Billam-Smith and Joe Cordina, with victory.
The Liverpool man’s promoter, Eddie Hearn arrived in Quebec on Wednesday and has been vocal in his beliefs that Smith will inflict a devastating defeat on Beterbiev.
“I can just – every time I think about this fight, you know, as Callum does, just catch, counter, I can see him knocking out Artur Beterbiev out cold in Quebec,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.
“It’s a tough task, but I really believe [Callum is] gonna do it.
“And, you know, people give him a good shot in that fight. And I do.
“I really believe Callum Smith will beat Beterbiev and become the unified light heavyweight world champion, two-division world champion as well.
“Can’t wait to be there. And, you know, it’s one of those nights where you go and get victory over there, and it’s just one that you really remember.”
Beterbiev, fights for the first time since retaining his belts with an eighth round stoppage of Anthony Yarde last January and has reportedly signed to face WBA champion, Dmitry Bivol with the fight set to go ahead later this year if he is successful against Smith.
The 38-year-old has been surrounded with questions on fight week after it emerged that he had returned an atypical finding in a VADA test taken on December 6.
Hello everyone! I repeat that I feel good. All that i need is to go through the weigh-in procedure and fight!
Maybe I’m not very wordy right now. Because I focus on the work ahead, I think about what I will do on Saturday. Sport is my job. And I want to do my job well. pic.twitter.com/MVqnyAFPtU
— Artur Beterbiev (@ABeterbiev) January 11, 2024
The Russian-born Canadian has been cleared to fight Smith with the test finding not viewed as a violation and he has since tested negative in subsequent urine and blood tests.
“It has come to my attention that Callum intends to disseminate misleading information about my Vada testing program for this fight,” he said in a statement.
“Let me be clear now: I am a clean athlete.
“I have never tested positive for a banned substance throughout my amateur and professional career and I complied with all Vada requirements and protocols during the build-up to this fight.
“Any attempt to imply otherwise, through innuendo or suggestion is slanderous and libelous.
“This conduct is beyond acceptable trash talk in combat sports.
“Callum is already searching for excuses, looking for a way out. See you Saturday.”
