Smith Ready To Play Spoiler in his Battle Against Artur Beterbiev
Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) is two days away from his January 13 battle against reigning unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs). Many boxing observers view Mundo as the underdog. Nonetheless, Smith believes this is the opportunity to show how good he is and feels the defending champion is ripe for the picking.
A former WBA champion at super middleweight, Smith has patiently waited to face Beterbiev. They were to fight in August 2019, but the matchup got postponed when Beterbiev underwent surgery on his jaw.
Speaking to the British boxing podcast Toe2Toe, Mundo couldn’t hide his excitement. Fighting in Beterbiev’s adopted home country of Canada, the challenger understands it will not be an easy task. But he is confident he has the tools to handle his business and win on enemy territory.
READY TO BE TAKEN DOWN?
“I just believe that I’m a better, smarter fighter . . . I think stylistically, I can hit hard, I know when to punch. I’ve got good punch variation.”
“I just think that I catch him before he catches me. I genuinely believe I’ve got the style to beat him.”
With all his wins coming by stoppage, Beterbiev has built a reputation as a fearsome force that breaks his opponents into pieces. But at age 38, he is no spring chicken. In his most recent outing in January 2023, he showed vulnerabilities in an eighth-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde.
SEIZE THE MOMENT
Some in the boxing community viewed Beterbiev’s performance against Yarde as a sign that the unified champion is starting to slip. As far as the challenger from England sees it, the hard-hitting champion is far from an impenetrable force.
“He’s not invincible. He doesn’t go in there and whitewash everyone. He does lose rounds and he’s there to be hit. I’ve seen two fighters put him down as a professional . . . I know if I land clean, I know I will have an effect on him. I just believe that however the fight goes, I will come out victorious.”
Word on the street is if Beterbiev wins, next would be a showdown with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol for undisputed status at 175. But Smith has other plans. He’s on a mission to play spoiler and become a two-division world champion.
