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

[SeanBrennan]

I expect Callum to bottle it. Time and time again, we see British fighters when fighting a level above, completyely bottle it. Just tuck into their shell and absorb the punishment, too scared to fight back lest they get caught and KO'd because they see it better to lose 120-0 on the cards than make a fight of it and KO'd in five.

Callum showed vs Canelo that he has no bottle.

His bicep was just about hanging off for a fair few rounds, he's not short of guts.

He took a battering from Canelo and still stuck in there , agree with this .

Me too. I hope Artur loses especially after his "I did some weights and it spiked my growth hormone and test" nonsense. Callum looks super chilled.

[margaret thatcher]

maybe he loaded up on boar testicles

[Frostieballs]

I don’t get the optimism around Smith in this fight.

Isn’t he going to get stopped?

[TheLeprechaun]

I don’t get the optimism around Smith in this fight.

Isn’t he going to get stopped?

I don't even really give him a punchers chance but it's boxing. Holyfield fans were sending him Get Well Soon cards before the tyson fight.

[Ezzard]

Win or lose I expect a career best performance from Callum Smith.

He knows this might be his last shot at the P4P big time fighters. If he puts in a great showing and goes out on his shield there are more pay days in the future.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[omalley]

Win or lose I expect a career best performance from Callum Smith.

He knows this might be his last shot at the P4P big time fighters. If he puts in a great showing and goes out on his shield there are more pay days in the future.

I don't see any bouts for good money in the future for Smith at LHW. Against whom exactly? Warren's fighters?

[Counter-puncher]

I expect Callum to bottle it. Time and time again, we see British fighters when fighting a level above, completyely bottle it. Just tuck into their shell and absorb the punishment, too scared to fight back lest they get caught and KO'd because they see it better to lose 120-0 on the cards than make a fight of it and KO'd in five.

Callum showed vs Canelo that he has no bottle.

His bicep was just about hanging off for a fair few rounds, he's not short of guts.

largely as I recall it his bicep was hanging off because he had such a supine approach to the fight that he basically stuck his earmuffs on from Rd1, got backed to the ropes and went into his shell over and over again, and passively submitted to having the available areas not protected by the earmuffs beaten like a drum.

may be I'm being harsh, but the passivity in that fight predated the injury, for me.

[Counter-puncher]

I was thinking all along that this should be a straight forward bludgeoning by Beterbiev because of how he reacted to some heavy handed pressure from the much smaller and weaker Canelo. But what if Smith was genuinely dead at SMW for the Canelo fight so if the plan was to surrender his title for the payday and hopefully not take too much damage maybe he is really much better than at LHW and not just flattered by his last couple of substandard opponents.

After full consideration I don't think we'll be seeing much of what Smith showed against Lenin Castillo and Bauderlique on the night. 7th round bludgeoning TKO by Zangieff.

on the other hand I do think 175 will be much better for Smith and likely he was very depleted at 168

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBC Responds To Beterbiev’s Atypical VADA Findings

“Two samples (one urine and another blood) collected on December 6, 2023, yielded analytical “atypical findings.” [This was] for 5b-androstanediol and HGH (human growth hormones). An atypical finding is not a positive results for a banned substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) defines an atypical finding as “a report from a laboratory or other WADA-approved entity which requires further investigation … ” That is exactly what the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which is the entity that administers the WBC Clean Boxing Program, did in this case.

“In response to the atypical findings, VADA immediately ordered additional anti-doping tests on Champion Beterbiev. To that end, VADA caused samples to be collected from Champion Beterbiev on December 15, 2023 (urine). [Then on] December 21, 2023 (blood and urine), and then again on January 3, 2024 (blood). All of those samples yielded absolutely negative results. Matchroom, Top Rank, the Quebec Commission, all sanctioning bodies involved (WBC, IBF, and WBO), and the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) received notifications of all the results of anti-doping test Champion Beterbiev has taken, and therefore of all follow up procedures.

Further Reaction
“It is widely known that there is no way to identify conclusively the source of an atypical finding. In the case of 5b-androstanediol, it has been reported that the atypical finding can be due to the rate certain people’s bodies metabolize naturally occurring testosterone-type compounds. [And] In the case of HGH, WADA provides with specific criteria to its accredited laboratories to report HGH levels as atypical or adverse findings. In Champion Beterbiev’s case, the level of HGH detected did not meet the WADA criteria for an adverse finding, and therefore constitutes an atypical one.

“Because the origin of an atypical finding is very difficult to identify, WADA recommends further testing to monitor any abnormal variations in testosterone levels. In Champion Beterbiev’s case, the follow up tests were not only negative, but yielded consistent testosterone levels without any spiking that could have suggested exogenous intake of performance enhancement substances. [And] in short, Champion Beterbiev’s testing protocol and results therein lead only to one conclusion: there are no adverse findings. In light of the testing measures taken and all results obtained, the WBC has not and will not take any adverse action in this matter.

[MightyWarrior]

Yadda yadda yadda

Thank God for that beacon of integrity the WBC
I think they also cleared Connor Benn didn’t they

I mean, I know they had to say this, what else can they do? It’s within the bounds of the legal parameters.
But you know what everyone’s thinking now don’t you

[MightyWarrior]

Buddy McGirt was one of the P4P best box fighters of the late 80’s, regularly putting on boxing clinics taking down some of the best of his day. I’m still not sure how great a trainer he is, but Smith’s not gonna go far wrong taking on board what he has to say, which from what I gather is keep the distance, and land hard early to get the beasts respect.

Although I’m not sure Callum hits harder than Anthony Yarde - but maybe that Anthony Yarde fight took more out of the champion than we know, one year ago. He took some heavy shots that night. The surgery he had on his jaw ain’t gonna help, but he’s obviously been compensating with some ace drugs in the meantime.

[omalley]

Yadda yadda yadda

Thank God for that beacon of integrity the WBC
I think they also cleared Connor Benn didn’t they

I mean, I know they had to say this, what else can they do? It’s within the bounds of the legal parameters.
But you know everyone’s thinking now don’t you

They could have kept silent, as the WBO and IBF did.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yadda yadda yadda

Thank God for that beacon of integrity the WBC
I think they also cleared Connor Benn didn’t they

I mean, I know they had to say this, what else can they do? It’s within the bounds of the legal parameters.
But you know everyone’s thinking now don’t you

They could have kept silent, as the WBO and IBF did.

We all know WBC try to act the big almighty.. They had to get a word in.

[jwfg]

I turned the TV on last night, put Netflix on, clicked to watch a show about a Uruguay plain crash and the first word I saw was Mundo. It's a sign.

[damage]

What time will this fight be on in the UK?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What time will this fight be on in the UK?

probably 4am

[Ricky]

How does a Russian fighting a Brit end up on TV at 4am. Boxing is such a shambles.

[foggyneedham]

Smith Ko round 2

[omalley]

How does a Russian fighting a Brit end up on TV at 4am. Boxing is such a shambles.

Beterbiev has been living in Canada for more than 10 years with his entire family, he has Canadian passport, and he is listed everywhere as a Canadian, the fight will take place in Québec, Canada.

[jwfg]

How does a Russian fighting a Brit end up on TV at 4am. Boxing is such a shambles.

Your posts are a shambles.

[damage]

What time will this fight be on in the UK?

probably 4am

ì thought if would be earlier been on the east coast(5 hrs behind us)

[cormack]

4 am not great for me ..

but I am going with Callum Smith to win