British boxer Callum Smith tonight has the prospect to turn into a unified light-heavyweight world champion when going through off towards Artur Beterbiev in a hugely-anticipated struggle in Canada.
The Liverpudlian was WBA champion at super-middleweight till he misplaced that belt when overwhelmed on factors by Canelo Alvarez in December 2020, with Smith then making the choice to maneuver as much as 175lbs.
He has fought simply twice in three years since that defeat to Canelo, choosing up routine stoppage wins over Lenin Castillo and Mathieu Bauderlique, and he now faces a giant step up towards the unbeaten Beterbiev, one of the feared punchers in boxing.
The 38-year-old is 19-0 as an expert, with all these wins coming inside the space, and he was final in motion a 12 months in the past when beating Anthony Yarde in London to defend his WBC, IBF, and WBO straps.
Yarde did trigger him issues although, earlier than his nook threw within the towel within the eighth spherical, whereas fellow Briton Callum Johnson dropped Beterbiev throughout an action-packed 4 rounds in 2018.
This struggle was scheduled to happen in August final 12 months, however it was pushed again after Beterbiev underwent surgical procedure to deal with a bone an infection in his jaw.
Smith's solely defeat has come to Canelo and his staff are assured they will stun an ageing Beterbiev, with the winner of this struggle doubtlessly then shifting on to an undisputed showdown with Dmitry Bivol.
Artur Beterbiev beat Anthony Yarde in an exciting struggle final 12 months
Getty Images
Beterbiev vs Smith takes place on Saturday January 13, 2024 on the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.
The undercard is anticipated to get underway at roughly 12am GMT, with the ring walks for the principle occasion pencilled in for round 4am on Sunday morning.
As ever, these timings are all approximate and topic to alter.
Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith
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TV channel: In the UK, the cardboard will likely be televised dwell on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena, with protection starting at 1am GMT within the early hours of Sunday morning.
Live stream: Subscribers may catch the motion dwell on-line by way of the Sky Go app.
Smith at all times regarded tight at 168lbs and the transfer as much as light-heavyweight seems to be a superb one for him, although it is a world away from his earlier two fights on the weight.
There are questions for Beterbiev to reply although - he was significantly examined by Yarde and it has inevitably been prompt that he's slowing down. He turns 39 later this month and has loads of miles on the clock, with greater than 300 fights to his title in case you embrace his novice profession.
Beterbiev is actually not defensively flawless both and he'll go away himself open to be hit, as Yarde and Johnson have proven, so it's no shock that Smith and his staff consider they are going to get alternatives to harm the champion.
Smith has the scale and attain benefit, and might want to set up his jab early to cease Beterbiev marching ahead. He could be up on the playing cards if he can prolong the struggle past the midway level, however Beterbiev's strain will certainly inform sooner or later.
Smith is extremely robust and is able to hurting his man and threatening an upset, however combating Beterbiev is an exhausting process, with no fighter but in a position to resolve the puzzle.
We're going for the champion to finally overwhelm Smith after some bushy moments, discovering one other stoppage because the bout strikes into the late rounds.
Beterbiev by stoppage, spherical 9.
This is a large step up for Callum Smith at light-heavyweight
Action Images by way of Reuters
The fighters took to the scales on Friday, with each making the burden. Smith got here in at 174.6lbs, with Beterbiev bang on the 175lbs restrict.
Beterbiev to win by determination/technical determination: 11/2
Beterbiev to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 4/9
Smith to win by determination/technical determination: 9/1
Smith to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 6/1
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to alter).
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