Eddie Hearn Explains Why He Believes Callum Smith KO’s Artur Beterbiev
Eddie Hearn thinks Callum Smith has the tools to beat Artur Beterbiev.
Just a few days ago, the WBC ordered Beterbiev to defend his WBA super middleweight title against Smith in a very intriguing matchup. When it happens, it’s likely that Beterbiev will be the betting favorite but Hearn believes Smith has the power to KO the champ and will do it with a left hook.
“I think Callum Smith is going to knock Beterbiev out,” Hearn told FightHubTV (via BoxingScene). “I really do. Yeah, I’m very confident he’ll win that fight.” I feel that you have a tremendous fighter in Beterbiev that is showing chinks in the armor. He’s 39. Callum Smith is a huge puncher at light heavyweight. He was so weight drained at 168. If he hits him on the chin with a left hook he’s going to knock him clean out.”
Since moving up, Smith has looked better which Hearn says was the right move for him. As well, the promoter says Beterbiev started to look his age last time out with his win over Anthony Yarde.
“It’s a very dangerous, but you saw Yarde, and Callum Smith is a much better fighter than Anthony Yarde at light heavyweight and Yarde is a great fighter,” Hearn added. “I thought Beterbiev was taking his time in that fight. But Yarde caused him some problems. I believe that if Callum Smith hits him with one of those clever catch-and-counter left hooks, he will completely knock him out and I believe he can win that fight.”
Callum Smith (29-1) is coming off a KO win over Mathieu Bauderlique back in August and before that, he KO’d Lenin Castillo to return to the win column after his loss to Canelo Alvarez. He also holds notable wins over John Ryder, Nieky Holzken, and George Groves among others.
Artur Beterbiev (19-0) scored a ninth-round TKO win over Anthony Yarde last time out and before that, he TKO’d Joe Smith Jr. In his career, he also has wins over Marcus Browne, Callum Johnson, and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Do you think Callum Smith will KO Artur Beterbiev as Eddie Hearn says?
