Beterbiev Vs. Smith Breakdown
Artur Beterbiev faces Callum Smith from Quebec City, Canada, on January 13th in a light heavyweight clash.
Beterbiev is the massive favorite and is on course to face Dmitry Bivol for undisputed. Bivol has signed for the fight, which means Beterbiev must come through the Smith fight to make it happen. Beterbiev has stopped all of his opponents in his 19 wins.
Beterbiev was meant to fight Smith last year in August, but he had a jaw infection, which meant he pulled out. Smith’s single defeat was against Canelo Alvarez. That was at 168 pounds, which caused Smith to move up to light heavyweight. Smith has knocked out his last two opponents, but he has not been in the ring since 2022.
Beterbiev Vs. Smith
Beterbiev showed his ability to come on the front foot in his last fight against Anthony Yarde.
He was the aggressor, throwing out stiff jabs to set up his attacks. The jabs were also used as feints to get into range. Beterbiev would move slowly with his legs, depending on which hand he would use for a power punch.
If he used the lead leg, the jab would be accompanied by a lead hook. The right over the top would follow if he used his back leg. That caused Yarde numerous problems as he struggled to understand what was coming his way. Those tactics against Smith would test his opponent.
Smith struggled with this against John Ryder before working him out. Ryder was a southpaw, which made it much more challenging, while Beterbiev fights orthodox. Smith’s reach advantage faded as Ryder came in, making it a much tougher fight. To avoid this, Smith must use his feet and not get stuck on the ropes as Yarde did.
Otherwise, he will come second best in the exchanges against a fighter with a 100 percent knockout rate. But if Beterbiev does this, Smith can read it and respond by controlling the range or countering Beterbiev when he comes in.
Smith is also a big puncher, with 21 knockouts in his 29 wins. Beterbiev does shuffle forward to reach out with his jab, but as he does so, he over-extends himself, leaving him in a weak position to be hit with a counter. Smith has a huge left hook that can be used in this regard or the right, which stopped Gilbert Castillo Riveria.
Pre-Fight Comments
“One category lower he was champion. First of all, he’s coming up to our category. 175lbs is 175lbs and we’ll see what happens there. Maybe in the lower category, he’s good there but here it’s 175. After we can say how is he. We’ll see. We’ll see. Like all my opponents, he’s a good boxer. He’s a good fighter, a good challenge for me,” Beterbiev revealed
“He’s a big puncher but nothing in my career so far shows that my chin’s a bit suspect or anything like that. Touch wood, I’ve never been hit or hurt or dropped as a professional. I’ve always been very confident defensively. I believe I’m pretty tidy and I can stay quite tight. I know the dangers. [And] I just think I catch him before he catches me and I can get rid of him. I genuinely do believe I’ve got the style to beat him. It’s no easy feat and I know I’m the underdog going in,” Smith said
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