Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith’s fight on Saturday night, with Beterbiev stating that he’s heard that Callum will be revealing info about his atypical VADA tests, “searching for excuses” if he fails to win their twelve-round contest at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.
Beterbiev Denies Wrongdoing, Calls Out Smith’s Motive
In a statement made to Kevin Iole’s site, Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) said Callum Smith’s plan to go public about the atypical results from his VADA test on December 6th at “disseminating misleading information” about it. Beterbiev’s additional tests on December 21st and January 3rd came up negative.
It’s not a good idea for Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) to anger Beterbiev and be more motivated than he already is to knock him out on Saturday night. Smith has inadvertently woken a sleeping giant by prodding Beterbiev.
There’s a lot riding on this fight for both guys because the winner will face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol next for the undisputed. Beterbiev has already signed the contract for the Bivol fight, and he just needs to get past this final hurdle against Smith to get the clash, which will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Beterbiev Sees “Excuses” and “Looking for a Way Out”
The two-time Russian Olympian Beterbiev said, “I am a clean athlete. I have never tested positive for a banned substance throughout my career.” Beterbiev then said, “Any attempt to imply otherwise, through innuendo or suggestion, is slanderous and libelous.”
Beterbiev says he views that as going “beyond trash talk” to imply that he’s a dirty athlete, and he sees it as an early method for Callum to avoid escaping blame when he loses the fight on Saturday night.
Hopefully, today’s news about Beterbiev’s atypical findings for his December 6th test doesn’t taint their fight this Saturday, January 13th, because that would be disappointing.
“If this was our show and our fighter, there would be 400 people sticking microphones in my face,” said Callum Smith’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, to Boxing News.
