Industry Picks: Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith

THE dimension of Callum Smith’s process on Saturday night time (January 13) is clear.

Artur Beterbiev is unbeaten in 19 fights, has both stopped or knocked out all his opponents, and is rightly generally known as one of the vital devastating fighters in boxing. However along with his thirty ninth birthday quick approaching, is that this the precise time for somebody like Smith to capitalise?

The primary huge struggle of 2024 pits two huge punching light-heavyweights in opposition to each other and Beterbiev, the champion, is the odds-on favorite to get the job accomplished. However what does the commerce assume? Boxing Information contacted a variety of figures inside the business to get their predictions on the struggle.

Anthony Yarde (Gentle-heavyweight contender) – I feel Beterbiev’s ultimately going to determine Smith out and his calculated strain will nook him and land the photographs. Smith’s a harmful fighter, nice left hook. If Smith can set his toes and land the left hook it could possibly be a really fascinating struggle.
Charlie Edwards (Former WBC belt-holder) – I consider Callum Smith would be the man to knock Beterbiev out. I feel he catches him within the mid-rounds.
Anthony Farnell (Coach) – I feel Smith wins inside the space. The straight proper will do it, much like when Smith dropped Hassan N’Dam. He simply can’t maintain his toes for too lengthy as a result of that’s what Beterbiev desires.
Conor Quinn (Flyweight prospect) – I feel Callum Smith wins by TKO/KO within the later rounds. Beterbiev is coming to the tail finish of his profession and Smith may be very sharp particularly along with his catch counters.
Nathaniel Collins (British featherweight champion) – I predict a Beterbiev stoppage win. I wouldn’t write Callum off as he has energy, attain and good inside work, too. I simply assume Beterbiev will probably be too robust, and his strain will probably be an excessive amount of for Smith and he’ll ultimately crumble.
Carl Greaves (Promoter/coach) – Beterbiev is a formidable champ, however he’s beginning to look weak, and I feel he’s prepared for the taking. Callum is a unique fighter at light-heavyweight. Artur remains to be very harmful with KO energy in each fingers and Callum has to field intelligent and make no errors, however I feel he’s going to trigger an upset and cease Beterbiev late.
Bradley Rea (Tremendous-middleweight contender) – I’m backing a Smith Beterbiev’s age has to meet up with some level, he can’t go on without end. He’s proven that he will be harm, and Smith appears to be a monster since transferring as much as light-heavyweight.
Gary Lockett (Coach) – Boxing is about timing, and I feel perhaps we’re beginning to see some cracks seem with Beterbiev. Callum has been on the verge of one thing huge for years now. He’s world-class and the transfer up in weight has benefitted him. Beterbiev is a big puncher and a fearsome fighter, however I feel the time is correct for Callum to fulfil his potential and rip the titles away. Callum Smith by stoppage.
Bec Connolly (Featherweight) – I’m going with Smith. Beterbiev is likely to be a fearsome puncher, however I feel Smith has all of the attributes wanted to do that.
Andy Lee (Coach) – It’s an ideal struggle and both man can win it.
Emma Dolan (Tremendous-flyweight contender) – I can’t think about Beterbiev getting harm. He’s a really robust strong man however Callum Smith is the youthful man and confirmed. He’s bought the ability at light-heavyweight. I don’t see it going to factors. I’d say Smith by stoppage between rounds eight and 12.
Hannah Rankin (Former WBA super-welterweight belt-holder) – Though Beterbiev has needed to overcome a couple of accidents these days and a few might imagine he’s on the slide, I do really feel that ought to he come by the early rounds the place Callum will probably be most harmful. Beterbiev by stoppage within the second half of the struggle.
Jon Pegg (Coach/supervisor) – Smith with a counter left-hook that causes a stoppage in spherical eight after an early scare.
Jay Harris (British flyweight champion) – I feel Callum Smith will KO him inside eight rounds.
Mark Jeffers (Tremendous-middleweight contender) – I’m going to go along with Callum Smith on factors. I assumed Beterbiev’s timing in opposition to Yarde seemed nicely off and I feel Smith is likely to be that bit too recent.
Lerrone Richards (Gentle-heavyweight contender) – It is a onerous one for me to name, so I’m going to sit down on the fence.
Steve Goodwin (Promoter/supervisor) – Regardless of Beterbiev being a fading power, I simply consider he can have an excessive amount of for Callum who doesn’t have the identical momentum he as soon as had. I am going for Beterbiev by stoppage.
Kevin Maree (Supervisor) – Callum Smith has a hell of an opportunity, however I feel inactivity may catch him out on this one. Suppose Callum will begin nicely, probably even drop Beterbiev however I am going for Beterbiev to climate the storm and cease Callum late.
Sam Noakes (Light-weight contender) – I feel Callum Smith would possibly do the job. Since he’s moved up, he’s seemed unreal and dominant.
Leigh Wooden (Former WBA featherweight belt-holder) – Callum Smith by knockout. I feel Callum will catch him on the counter. He’s very composed within the excessive guard and I feel Callum can have success countering off it.
Steve Wooden (Supervisor/Promoter) – Callum has an opportunity, however it needs to be early. If he can land early, then a KO win is a chance. However extra doubtless Beterbiev will get in a groove, and I see him profitable with a late KO.
Harry Scarff (British welterweight champion) – I’d wish to see Smith begin quick as I feel Beterbiev begins a bit gradual. However I consider Beterbiev is simply going to be that bit too robust down the stretch much like Canelo vs Smith. Shut struggle however Beterbiev on factors.
Maxi Hughes (Light-weight contender) – I’m choosing Callum Smith. The explanation why is the benefit in Callum being youthful, brisker on the weight and Beterbiev being 38 years of age. He’s been in onerous fights. I feel father time will catch up. It’s Callum’s huge alternative and that may carry the most effective out in him.
Richard Farnan (Cutman/coach) – I feel Beterbiev will win by late stoppage. Beterbiev is a beast at this weight, isn’t war-torn in any method no matter his age. He’s a fighter that’s not had many wars and has ended fights early. Callum’s solely likelihood is to field and transfer and never try to stand toe-to-toe with him.
Linus Udofia (Middleweight contender) – A better struggle than folks assume however Artur Beterbiev to win through late stoppage or factors majority resolution. Smith is lengthy and rangy which may trigger him issues, however Smith gained’t stand toe-to-toe which will probably be a bonus for him. Beterbiev wins although.
Nina Hughes (WBA bantamweight belt holder) – Beterbiev is robust and relentless. Callum Smith can struggle inside and at vary. I feel Callum can cease him late.
Matthew Hatton (Coach) – It’s an ideal struggle. A toss of a coin. Callum seems to be a lot better at light-heavyweight. If it was my final pound, I’d need to put it on Artur Beterbiev. I simply can’t again in opposition to a man with that report, that many knockouts. Beterbiev by late stoppage.
Josh Taylor (Former super-lightweight world champion) I feel Callum will do it. The 2 of them are coming off fairly lengthy layoffs. That will play an element. In the end Callum’s youthful and brisker, he’s had much less injury on the clock, and I feel he may break him down and cease him with a signature left hook to the top. We’ve seen Beterbiev harm a couple of occasions. I’m going to go along with Callum Smith, and I wouldn’t be stunned if he stopped him.
Liam Dillon (British super-featherweight champion) – I feel Callum Smith wins on factors. Artur Beterbiev may be very robust and an enormous puncher, and in opposition to Yarde he proved he has an excellent chin, so I don’t assume Smith will get the stoppage. I consider the struggle will probably be aggressive, however I feel with Smith’s expertise and ability he’ll win the struggle convincingly.
Joe Hughes (Former European super-lightweight champion) – I’m going with Smith on factors. I feel he’ll need to undergo some tough moments however will win an in depth resolution.
Michael McKinson (Welterweight contender) – I feel Callum Smith stops Beterbiev mid to late rounds. He’s seemed so huge and robust at 175lbs. I additionally assume it’s excellent timing for him. Neither have been very lively, however Beterbiev is 38, and was down on the playing cards in opposition to Yarde earlier than he bought the stoppage.
Gary Logan (Coach) – Beterbiev really is a powerful box-puncher. His strain both places you in a gap the place you don’t punch again, or his energy overwhelms when you do punch with him. Callum is the most effective (apart from Gvozdyk) that Beterbiev can have confronted up to now. A lot grace, poise, means, and energy. However Callum’s inactivity has been an extended interval than Beterbiev’s enforced lay off. That’s enormous for me. Going for Beterbiev by late spherical stoppage.
Owen Cooper (Welterweight prospect) – I consider Callum Smith I assumed Yarde put up an ideal struggle in opposition to Beterbiev and confirmed a few weaknesses. Smith’s inactivity may play an element, however Beterbiev isn’t getting any youthful and I feel the youth, dimension and boxing means of Smith will get him the win.
Jack Bateson (Featherweight contender) – I feel Callum Smith will win by KO. Beterbiev is called a wrecking machine and when he will get shut has the ability to KO anybody. Nonetheless, Callum has proven he has the ability to do the identical. Callum has the boxing means together with the attain to maintain Beterbiev at bay and out-box him and will catch him late.
Jamie Conlan (Promoter) – I actually assume Callum Smith wins by KO. It could possibly be an actual shoot-out that doesn’t go previous six rounds. Beterbiev has scary energy, however time waits for no man, and this could possibly be excellent timing. Callum is tall and may expose the openings of Beterbiev when he’s coming ahead. It could possibly be a case of whoever lands first.
Lyndon Arthur (Gentle-heavyweight contender) – I feel it relies upon how a lot Beterbiev’s bought left in him. I don’t assume it’s going to be a simple struggle, however I do assume if Beterbiev’s bought something left in him he’ll take the victory.
Mark Dunlop (Promoter) – I feel Beterbiev will win by tenth spherical stoppage. Callum has solely had six aggressive rounds in over two years which could possibly be the telling issue as soon as the struggle goes deep. However I might not rule out an upset with Smith being the larger and youthful man.
Sol Dacres (Heavyweight prospect) – Beterbiev late stoppage.
Junaid Bostan (Tremendous-welterweight prospect) – When Beterbiev fought Yarde I stated the 2 males who beat him at 175 are Bivol and Smith. Smith stoppage.
Padraig McCrory (Gentle-heavyweight contender) – I feel Smith can do it by knockout. He was an enormous robust super-middleweight and he’s stuffed into an even bigger stronger light-heavyweight and I feel he can do the job.
Reece Mould (Light-weight contender) – I’m going to go for Callum Smith on factors. I feel his boxing means is healthier and he can do all of it so I’m going to edge with him.