It looks like Callum Smith and Artur Beterbiev will go the distance with one of them knocked out.
Beterbiev has 19 knockouts from 19 victories in his professional career, and is the unified light heavyweight champion.
While Canelo Alvarez was the WBA super middleweight champion in 2020, Smith lost to him, despite having 21 knockouts from 29 victories.
When Smith spoke with BoxingScene.com, he estimated that two strong fighters in the ring would almost certainly stoppage each other now that he fights at 175 pounds.
He remarked, “I think you can see that we’re two great punchers if you watch both of our fights, especially me at 175 and obviously all of his.” In my opinion, the struggle will be thrilling when viewed objectively. The likelihood is that it will cease in the near future, in my opinion. And as I’ve already stated, I think I have a chance. I really think I’m competent and strong enough to defeat him. Naturally, though, he and I will each have a strategy, and the winner is usually the one who executes it best.
But in my opinion, it’s difficult to see this fight lasting the full twelve rounds when you have two extremely strong punchers. However, you never know. I’ve been ready for the hardest 12 rounds of my career since I have fights scheduled with two heavyweight punchers that last the entire 12. On paper, I think this is the hardest fight I’ve ever been in, but like I said, I have faith in my strength and boxing prowess to prevail by whatever means necessary.
Smith talked about his defeat against Canelo and said that he was beginning to feel limited by the super middleweight weight class.
“It was difficult,” he said. It’s not an excuse, therefore I don’t want to sit here and make one. Canelo performed his job and was the superior guy that evening. However, I don’t think I really understood how much I needed to advance to 175 until after I did so.
Naturally, I thought I would defeat Canelo when we faced off,” Smith stated. “I didn’t know my days at 168 were running out and it was beginning to influence my performances until I went in there. To beat Canelo, I needed to be at my best and I wasn’t that night. I was a long way from it. However, I believe that I did well in my two fights at 175 and that my physical condition has improved since then. And I’m in much better mental shape coming into this battle than I was back then.
