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.
When I first met Beterbiev I expected him to be this no-nonsense, stern-faced Russian guy. I could not have been more wrong. He is the funniest guy ever, always making jokes.
Me and the other sparring partners would huddle up, plotting and planning on how to take him down. He came over and went “Oh, Dan, so you are the ring leader? No problem.”
He is also so polite and respectful. One time after a hard spar he came over to me and apologised. I was like: “what are you saying sorry for? That is what I am here for.”
Because Beterbiev knocks everyone out, nobody focuses on his other attributes. His footwork and boxing brain are very good.
He has timing and can cut the ring so well. He is a man who has boxed and beaten current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in the amateurs.
But every fighter is beatable. Nobody is invincible. Beterbiev was dropped by Callum Johnson in 2018 and at times against Anthony Yarde last year he was getting caught.
Beterbiev puts his best performances in when he respects you. When get gets in there and lacks respect for an opponent, he gets a bit gung-ho.
That is when he is the most vulnerable. Smith is a great counter puncher and his best chance is if Beterbiev just tries to bulldoze his way through him and not show any respect.
I could fight gym-mate Smith – nobody is off limits
Having been around Smith, I can just tell he is someone who not just in there for a purse. He is someone who looking to achieve and leave a legacy.
I like the underdog story and that is why I am rooting for Smith. A win for him would be massive for British boxing. The last light-heavyweight world champion from here was Nathan Cleverley.
It would be nice for Smith to bring these belts here and us Britons can have our own little mix-up. The Russians – Beterbiev and WBA (Super) champion Dmitry Bivol – have held the belts hostage for too long.
Like Smith, I am also targeting a world title at light-heavyweight – but there is not any awkwardness between us in the gym.
I have twice been in camp with him in America. He is happy to share advice and having him as a stablemate is a definite plus for me. He has been where I am trying to get to. So whatever knowledge I can gain from him, I try to.
Having said that, nobody is off limits. Remember, I am fighting Buatsi who I have known for over a decade and sparred over a thousand rounds with.
But whether Smith, Beterbiev or Bivol are future opponents for me is irrelevant right now. My sole focus is on Buatsi at Wembley Arena on 3 February.
After I get my hand raised I can start looking at the best scenario to capture a world title.