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British boxer Callum Smith tonight has the prospect to turn out to be a unified light-heavyweight world champion when dealing with off in opposition to Artur Beterbiev in a hugely-anticipated struggle in Canada.
The Liverpudlian was WBA champion at super-middleweight till he misplaced that belt when crushed on factors by Canelo Alvarez in December 2020, with Smith then making the choice to maneuver as much as 175lbs.
He has fought simply twice in three years since that defeat to Canelo, selecting up routine stoppage wins over Lenin Castillo and Mathieu Bauderlique, and he now faces a giant step up in opposition to the unbeaten Beterbiev, one of the crucial feared punchers in boxing.
The 38-year-old is 19-0 as an expert, with all these wins coming inside the space, and he was final in motion a 12 months in the past when beating Anthony Yarde in London to defend his WBC, IBF, and WBO straps.
Yarde did trigger him issues although, earlier than his nook threw within the towel within the eighth spherical, whereas fellow Briton Callum Johnson dropped Beterbiev throughout an action-packed 4 rounds in 2018.
This struggle was scheduled to happen in August final 12 months, however it was pushed again after Beterbiev underwent surgical procedure to deal with a bone an infection in his jaw.
Smith’s solely defeat has come to Canelo and his crew are assured they will stun an ageing Beterbiev, with the winner of this struggle probably then transferring on to an undisputed showdown with Dmitry Bivol.
Artur Beterbiev beat Anthony Yarde in an exciting struggle final 12 months
Getty Photographs
Beterbiev vs Smith date, begin time, venue and ring walks
Beterbiev vs Smith takes place on Saturday January 13, 2024 on the Videotron Centre in Quebec Metropolis, Canada.
The undercard is predicted to get underway at roughly 12am GMT, with the ring walks for the primary occasion pencilled in for round 4am on Sunday morning.
As ever, these timings are all approximate and topic to vary.
Beterbiev vs Smith struggle card/undercard in full
Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith
Jason Moloney vs Saul Sanchez
Christian Mbilli vs Rohan Murdock
Imam Khataev vs Rodolfo Gomez Jr
Christopher Guerrero vs Sergio Garcia Herrera
Mehmet Unal vs Dragan Lepei
Leila Beaudoin vs Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza
Moreno Fendero vs Victor Hugo Flores
Wilkens Mathieu vs Jose Arias Alvarez
watch Beterbiev vs Smith
TV channel: Within the UK, the cardboard can be televised dwell on Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion and Area, with protection starting at 1am GMT within the early hours of Sunday morning.
Reside stream: Subscribers can even catch the motion dwell on-line by way of the Sky Go app.
Beterbiev vs Smith struggle prediction
Smith at all times seemed tight at 168lbs and the transfer as much as light-heavyweight seems to be a superb one for him, although it is a world away from his earlier two fights on the weight.
There are questions for Beterbiev to reply although – he was critically examined by Yarde and it has inevitably been prompt that he’s slowing down. He turns 39 later this month and has loads of miles on the clock, with greater than 300 fights to his title in the event you embrace his novice profession.
Beterbiev is actually not defensively flawless both and he’ll depart himself open to be hit, as Yarde and Johnson have proven, so it’s no shock that Smith and his crew consider they are going to get alternatives to harm the champion.
Smith has the dimensions and attain benefit, and might want to set up his jab early to cease Beterbiev marching ahead. He could be up on the playing cards if he can lengthen the struggle past the midway level, however Beterbiev’s strain will certainly inform in some unspecified time in the future.
Smith is extremely robust and is able to hurting his man and threatening an upset, however combating Beterbiev is an exhausting activity, with no fighter but in a position to clear up the puzzle.
We’re going for the champion to ultimately overwhelm Smith after some bushy moments, discovering one other stoppage because the bout strikes into the late rounds.
Beterbiev by stoppage, spherical 9.
This can be a enormous step up for Callum Smith at light-heavyweight
Motion Photographs by way of Reuters
Beterbiev vs Smith weigh-in outcomes
The fighters took to the scales on Friday, with each making the load. Smith got here in at 174.6lbs, with Beterbiev bang on the 175lbs restrict.
Beterbiev vs Smith betting odds
Beterbiev to win by choice/technical choice: 11/2
Beterbiev to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 4/9
Smith to win by choice/technical choice: 9/1
Smith to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 6/1
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to vary).
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