Author: Sean Close
“I’ve never seen snow like we’re seeing here,” Callum Smith shared with Ariel Helwani before this weekend’s light heavyweight title fight in Quebec. His opponent, Artur Beterbiev, is a formidable foe, so Smith is fully focused on the upcoming bout. This marks Smith’s second opportunity for glory. In 2020, he faced Canelo Alvarez while holding the WBA World Super Middleweight Championship. Despite his speed, Smith couldn’t match Canelo’s strength and suffered a defeat through a unanimous decision from the judges.
Smith is optimistic about his chances on the Quebec night. “He’s been hit before, he’s been knocked down twice as a pro,” Smith told Helwani about Beterbiev. While acknowledging Beterbiev’s achievements, Smith refused to believe in his invincibility. “His achievements speak for themselves. He is an undefeated world champion, has knocked out everyone he has ever faced and holds three world titles. Mike Tyson could lose. Roy Jones could lose. Don’t tell me Beterbiev is invincible…He’s a good fighter, but he’s not the hardest guy to hit. The chances of him getting hit are… Yes,” Smith emphasized. “I have to believe in myself and how good I am,” he added, demonstrating his confidence in his abilities. Despite his belief in himself, Smith knows that he needs more than just confidence to overcome the formidable Beterbiev this weekend. “I think the best version of me can beat anyone on the planet,” he asserted, exuding confidence in his skills. Reflecting on his loss to Canelo, Smith acknowledged its significance. “Losing highlights things you need to improve on,” he said, recognizing the need for improvement following his defeat. He is determined not to repeat the same mistakes as in his previous fight.
With the anticipation of a potential showdown between Beterbiev and Canelo’s conqueror Dmitry Bivol, Smith is looking to upset expectations by defeating Beterbiev in Canada this weekend. While it would be a significant upset, the world of combat sports is full of surprises, with recent examples such as Francis Ngannou almost defeating Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s surprise loss to Joseph Parker. Smith is aiming to create a surprise of his own this Saturday in a sport renowned for its unpredictability.
- Image provided by: Top Rank
