Callum Smith believes he has the power to knock out unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
The Liverpudlian will travel to Beterbiev’s adopted hometown of Quebec City to challenge him for his IBF, WBO and WBC light-heavyweight titles on August 19, live on Sky Sports.
Beterbiev has won all of his 19 fights by knockout but Smith, the former WBA super-middleweight, believes he can stop the undefeated champion.
“I believe I knock him out. I’m confident in my own power,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“That doesn’t mean I think it’s an easy fight. I think it’s a very tough fight whilst it lasts but I just think he has been hurt and if I see other people hurt him then I definitely believe I can too.
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Barry Jones believes a Callum Smith win over Artur Beterbiev on August 19 in Canada would rank amongst the greatest ever British victories on foreign soil. You can listen to the latest episode of the Toe2Toe Podcast now
“I’m very meticulous in what I do, and I’ll be prepared for the toughest 12-rounds of my career, whether we need them or not, we’ll have to wait and see but the goal is to go over there, beat him, take his three belts and return home.
“I’ve become a world champion but I want to be a two-weight world champion. I think as a fighter you always want more, and I worked hard to get into this position. I’ve finally got my chance to achieve my dream and it’s a fight I’m excited about and a chance I plan on taking.”
Since suffering his only career defeat to current undisputed 168-pound champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2020, Smith has won two fights in the 175-pound division, with the most recent coming in the form of a stoppage victory over Mathieu Bauderlique last August.
Beterbiev was last in action in January when he stopped Brit Anthony Yarde in eight rounds in a fight-of-the-year contest.
But Smith feels his boxing IQ will see him become the new unified champion in Canada. He said: “I think I have got a bit more about my game. I think you’ve got to be a little smarter, I think I’ve got a good boxing brain, good attributes and I think you’ve got to use them to your full potential.
“At the highest level, the smallest mistake can lose you the fight, so I’ve got to be switched on. I’ve got a few weeks to drill in those repetitions and make sure I’ve got the right game plan, but I’m very confident in my own abilities.”
Smith added: “I believe on my day, when I’m at my best, I can beat anyone in the world and I do believe I’m at my best at the moment.”
