Eddie Hearn is predicting a convincing victory when Callum Smith takes on Artur Beterbiev this Saturday.
The pair will face off in Canada in what will be a battle for the Russian’s IBF, WBC, and WBO light-heavyweight belts, with the holder initially entering the title scene seven years ago.
Berbiev is heavy favourite to retain his titles, boasting a 100 per cent knockout record in his unbeaten career, logging 19 victories from 19 bouts, the most recent coming in January last year when he stopped Anthony Yarde London.
Smith, however, has some impressive victories of his own to his name and has been waiting for the opportunity to face his weekend opponent for over a year since beating Mathieu Bauderlique on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s second fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
And Hearn, who promotes Smith Via Matchroom, predicted a solid night’s work for his man.
Eddie Hearn (pictured) is predicting a convincing knockout victory for Callum Smith when he faces Artur Beterbiev this Saturday
Smith has been waiting over a year for the fight since securing the opportunity in August 2022
Beterbiev is the heavy favourite to win the fight, boasting a 100 per cent knock out record from his 22 fights
‘Callum Smith is going to knock Beterbiev spark out,’ the promotor said. ‘You know, like a face down knockout. He’s going to be up against the ropes and Beterbiev is going to come in like he does, he’s going to screw up his feet, and Callum’s going to do what he does best, which is catch-counter with the left hook. One punch knockout.
‘(Beterbiev’s) definitely slipping, he’s like 39 years old. But he’s also a beast, he’s unbelievable. But sooner or later…
‘I know Beterbiev’s the favorite. I’m not saying he’s not the favorite, but I can see it in my own eyes, this one punch knockout.’
It’s likely there will only be one fight between Smith and Beterbiev whatever the result, with Dmitry Bivol itching for an opportunity at the belts as he continues to rise up the ranks.
The Kyrgyzstan-born fighter is also unbeaten in his career, with 22 victories from 22 fights, and has belts of his own, but there could be a few hurdles in the way to make the next fight happen.
Hearn also pledged to try and set up a bout between the winner of Saturday’s fight and Dmitry Bivol (pictured) next
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman (second left), however, has suggested that any fight would not be able to have the undisputed title on the line
‘Whatever happens, we will try to make Bivol against the winner of that fight,’ Hearn added. ‘Mauricio Sulaiman is saying that fight cannot be for the undisputed because the WBC will not allow (Bivol) to fight for the WBC title because he’s from Russia.
‘I respect Mauricio Sulaiman, he’s a friend of mine. We don’t always agree with everything. It’s difficult because Dmitry’s our friend and he’s probably one of the most nicest, peaceful guys you could ever meet. I just feel like if I didn’t know Dmitry I probably wouldn’t feel as strongly about this.
‘I don’t think a man’s legacy should be defined by one or a small group of people running his country that he does not agree with that regime or movement.
‘I think if (Bivol) turned around and said “yes, I support this” then I agree, but I think it’s very difficult when a guy is going “no, I don’t even know anything about that, I’m just just training in LA, I’m a man of peace. I want everyone to get along”.’