Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith have both made weight ahead of their light-heavyweight title fight on Saturday night.
The two will go head-to-head in Canada in a match that has been over a year in the making after Smith earned the opportunity to face the Russian in late 2022.
Beterbiev, who boasts a 100 per cent knockout record from his 22 professional fights, is heavy favourite to win the bout, but Smith will hope to cause an upset and set up a potential match against Dmitry Bivol.
The fight was plunged into doubt on Thursday when it was revealed that Beterbiev returned an ‘atypical finding’ in a VADA drugs test in December, but follow-up tests came back negative, meaning the fight would still go ahead.
The pair faced off for the final time before their match on Friday as their weighed in before the bout in Quebec.
Artur Beterbiev (left) and Callum Smith (right) have both made weight ahead of their light-heavyweight title fight
Beterbiev returned an ‘atypical finding’ in a VADA drugs test in December containing raised levels of HGH and testosterone metabolite 5D-androstanediol
Smith is the heavy underdog for the fight, with the home man registering a 100 per cent knockout record from his 22 professional bouts
A recent drugs test undertaken on December 6 by Beterbiev contained raised levels of HGH and testosterone metabolite 5D-androstanediol.
As reported by Kevin Iole, both substances occur naturally in the body, and upon undergoing more testing, Beterbiev returned negative results in two sets of blood and urine tests.
As Beterbiev’s test was atypical rather than ‘adverse’, the fight will go ahead as scheduled, but the unified light heavyweight champion was keen to stress that he remains a ‘clean athlete’ as news of his result broke.
In a fierce statement, the 38-year-old warned his opponent that attempts to muddy the waters with commentary on the results would not be taken lightly.
‘It has come to my attention that Callum Smith intends to disseminate misleading information about my VADA testing for this fight,’ Beterbiev said. ‘Let me be clear now – I am a clean athlete.
‘I have never tested positive for a banned substance throughout my career. Any attempt to imply otherwise, through innuendo or suggestion is slanderous and libellous. This conduct is beyond acceptable trash talk.
‘Callum is already searching for excuses, looking for a way out. See you Saturday.’
The winner of the fight could be set to take on undefeated Dmitry Bivol in their next match-up
Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn has predicted a convincing win for his client on Saturday night
Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn, meanwhile, has predicted an upset victory for his client in convincing fashion.
‘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.’