Briton Dan Azeez writes for BBC Sport to discuss compatriot and gym-mate Callum Smith’s chances against light-heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev.
Undefeated Russian Beterbiev will defend his IBF, WBC and WBO belts in Quebec, Canada on Saturday.
Can Liverpool’s Smith cause an upset and become a two-weight world champion? Or will Beterbiev maintain his 100% knockout record with another explosive performance?
I sparred Artur Beterbiev in Canada before his fight with Joe Smith Jr in 2022.
A guy came to pick me up to take me to the gym. He was a sparring partner as well. The moment I got into the car I noticed he had the fattest black eye and both his nose and lip were busted.
“Please don’t say you have been sparring Artur?” I asked him. He just nodded his head.
I asked him whether he could give me any advice. His response was simple yet a little unhelpful – “just keep your hands up”.
Beterbiev has been a world champion for more than six years and has knocked out all 19 of his opponents as a professional. To the untrained eye, his power is frightening. Well I can tell you that it feels even more frightening in real life. It is insane.
There were fighters in camp who had enough and left after just one round of sparring.
Some people are writing Smith off and that is fair enough when you look at Beterbiev’s record, but do not start dismissing Smith’s chances too quickly.
We are both trained by Buddy McGirt and I have seen his focus and drive for this fight first hand.
Smith too has excellent experience as an amateur and professional. He was a world champion at super-middleweight and has only ever lost to the brilliant Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Both men can punch and have good ring IQ. This is definitely going to be an exciting fight – I do not see it going the distance.
If I was not boxing Joshua Buatsi in just a few weeks’ time I would be trying everything I could to get a ringside seat in Quebec. There are going to be fireworks.