Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith | Sky Sports - 13 January 2024

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Artur Beterbiev title defense vs. Callum Smith set for Aug. 19

A former world champion will be the latest to test one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport.

Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his titles against Callum Smith, Top Rank Promotions announced Thursday. Beterbiev will face the ex-super middleweight titleholder on Aug. 19 in Quebec City, where the undefeated Beterbiev lives.

The native Russian is currently ranked No. 1 in ESPN's light heavyweight ranking and is eighth on ESPN's men's pound-for-pound list. Beterbiev is looking for his 20th knockout in as many professional fights.

"Québec is my second home, so I'm very happy to finally defend my titles on home turf," Beterbiev said in Top Rank's statement announcing the fight.

The bout against Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) marks Beterbiev's first title defense in Canada since 2021, when he knocked out Marcus Browne in Montreal to retain the IBF and WBC belts.

Since moving up to the 175-pound division following a 2020 loss to Canelo Alvarez, Smith has won his past two fights. Most recently, the Englishman stopped Mathieu Bauderlique on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II undercard last August.

This March, the WBC ordered Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) to face Smith in a mandatory title defense. Top Rank earned the right to promote the fight by submitting a winning purse bid in April.

Many have clamored for a potential undisputed fight between Beterbiev and Bivol, the longtime WBA champion. However, the WBC has been adamantly opposed to sanctioning Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) because of his continued Russian ties amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.

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Joe doesn’t want it next haha

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[TheLeprechaun]

Pretty easy fight for Beterbiev. Callum just covered up and didn't try to win vs Canelo. I can see the same thing happening.

[tonyevs]

Agreed. There are similarities of Canelo.
Beterbiev fights the early rounds to break a fighter down to get him out of there later on .. he don't worry about losing early rounds.

[Ruthless-RKO]

People say Smith didn’t do anything against Canelo.

What happened was. By rd2, Canelo had targeted Smith’s arm.. so Smith couldn’t even lift his arms to throw a punch.

That’s why he was a sitting duck the whole fight.

He showed off his arms after the fight too.

[margaret thatcher]

bert-bivol gotta happen next, they both want it. i think it will find a way

tbh, even if they gotta drop a belt it's still the fight with them so clearly being the top 2

[samwbr]

Joe doesn’t want it next haha

Why would he not let that happen? Callum has a guaranteed fight for every belt at huge money.

[margaret thatcher]

probably thought as a boxing fan first there, im sure we'll hear him say otherwise soon about what should happen next lol

give me bivol-bert even for no belts if that's what it takes to happen next. let callum fight for a vacant title vs buatsi or yarde (the next two ranked). then we get 2 fights that are better than this one

[samwbr]

probably thought as a boxing fan first there, im sure we'll hear him say otherwise soon about what should happen next lol

give me bivol-bert even for no belts if that's what it takes to happen next. let callum fight for a vacant title vs buatsi or yarde (the next two ranked). then we get 2 fights that are better than this one

None of those things will happen.

[joshj909]

I think all anyone wants in this weightclass is Bivol Vs Beterbiev. Canelo can face Beterbiev if he wins. Smith can come after that with the likes of Buatsi and Azeez.

Now would be a good time for Buatsi Vs Yarde.

[margaret thatcher]

probably thought as a boxing fan first there, im sure we'll hear him say otherwise soon about what should happen next lol

give me bivol-bert even for no belts if that's what it takes to happen next. let callum fight for a vacant title vs buatsi or yarde (the next two ranked). then we get 2 fights that are better than this one

None of those things will happen.

i dunno, i dont think bert needs to glue himself to the wbc titlle at this point, everyone knows bert-bivol is the big fight and it's really coming to a head as far as hype is concerned. it's the matchup that's exciting, not the fact that a bunch of belts would be on the line. i know bert has said many times it's the one he wants and he doesnt have the time to f@ck around. if he just endlessly does mandatories he'll never get it

many people think he had hell against yarde......if so then he should realize he needs to strike as soon as possible vs bivy

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Joe doesn’t want it next haha

Why would he not let that happen? Callum has a guaranteed fight for every belt at huge money.

I don’t think Calum is with him anymore.

[keithmoonhangover]

Nuts on the block. Callum wins this one in a career shortener.

[smiling assassin]

Callum smith is with buddy mcgirt

[Manchester Hitman]

I don’t think Smith has the particular tools for that work.

[DrDuke]

Sh1tty option in front of the Bivol opportunity. Not the most interesting bout even apart from it, since there's Canelo, who had LHW ambitions and outclassed Smith.

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Callum Smith: I'm in My Peak Years - The Time To Beat Beterbiev is Now!

"I've done my part. I've become mandatory so I can sit and wait and fight for three of the belts. He wants a respectable opponent in the spring - "it's got to be an opponent that makes me want to get into camp, makes me want to train hard" - even though it will be a fight Smith cannot afford to lose. It's a bit of a tricky one. But if I'm good enough to beat Beterbiev, which I believe I am, I should be good enough to beat anyone else I the meantime, as long as I stay focused and motivated," Smith told Sky Sports.

"I believe I can beat anyone on the planet. I believe I can win the belts as well. He's European style, applies pressure but doesn't just race forward, he's clever how he does it and obviously heavy-handed," Smith continued. "He has been hurt, he's been put over twice as a professional and he's not invincible. I've seen other fighters hurt him and put him over, I fully believe I can. I'm in my peak years now and the time to beat him is now."

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Smith arguably lost to Ryder.

Let's not forget this.

Yes it was at 168.. But I think it would be a close/competitive fight.

[wrighty]

May chuck a fiver on Smith. No more. I'm tight as buggery.

[Blueprint]

Would Yarde beat Callum Smith?