Eddie Hearn says former WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith will knock IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev out cold on January 13th.
Hearn really believes in the 33-year-old Callum and hasn’t given up on him as a lost hope after his terrible performances against Canelo Alvarez and John Ryder.
It sounds like wishful thinking on Hearn’s part, as he’s got to know what Smith is up against facing Beterbiev. Smith can’t afford to lose this fight, as he’s been spinning his wheels since losing his WBA 168-lb title in 2020.
Fans abandoned Smith like rats from a sinking ship after his loss to Canelo, but Hearn is captain and willing to sink with him for the final plunge.
It’ll be interesting to see if Hearn gives up on Smith afterward or keeps him with his Matchroom company. He’d still be young enough to grab one of the belts after the soon-to-be 39-year-old Beterbiev retires.
The Ghost of Canelo: Can Smith Overcome Doubt?
A win for the 33-year-old Smith would bring him back, erasing the image fans have burned into their minds about him looking scared, cowering against the ropes, while Canelo Alvarez beat the daylights out of him in their fight in December 2020.
Hearn is excited about the Beterbiev-Smity fight, already imagining Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) destroying the previously unbeaten three-belt 175-lb champion Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) at the Centre Videotron in Quebe, City.
A glimpse of undisputed glory
If Smith wins, a fight for the undisputed championship against WBA 175-lb champion Dmitry Bivol would be possible this year. Hearn hasn’t said anything about the Saudis being interested in staging a fight between Bivol and Smith for the undisputed championship, but that’s a possibility.
“I can see him knocking out Artur Beterbiev cold in Quebec,” said Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing on his fighter Callum Smith scoring what he hopes for is a KO victory over IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev on January 13th.
Smith is the perfect opponent for Beterbiev to destroy for his 20th consecutive knockout. Beterbiev is at his best when he’s facing guys who try to slug with him, and Smith will make his job easier if he tries to trade power shots.
Unfortunately for Smith, he doesn’t know how to box, so he’ll have to try and best and hope that Beterbiev has gotten old since his last fight in January 2023.
Has Beterbiev gotten old?
“People give him a good chance in that fight, and I do,” Hearn continued about Callum. “I really believe Callum Smith will beat Beterbiev and become the unified light heavyweight world champion and two-division world champion as well.
“I can’t wait to be there. It’s one of those nights where you get a victory over there, and it’s one that you really remember,” said Hearn.
“He [Beterbiev] just started showing a few signs. I think he can be hurt, but a big danger, and Callum has got to get it spot on, but I believe he’ll do it,” said Hearn.
