Callum Smith is difficult some of the feared punchers in world boxing when he fights Artur Beterbiev this weekend.
Beterbiev is the unified WBC, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight champion. No skilled opponent has gone the gap with him, giving him a 100 per cent knockout ratio.
However the Liverpudlian is adamant he can beat Beterbiev once they struggle on the Videotron Middle in Quebec, reside on Sky Sports activities Enviornment from 1am on Sunday.
“I definitely do believe I will prove all the doubters wrong,” Smith instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I understand how good I’m, I understand how good I may be. Typically you do not actually get the chance to point out that.
“This time I’ve bought the most effective struggle potential for me on this division and if I win I turn into a two-weight world champion, three world titles.
“That’s been the biggest motivation for me these last few camps and I’m very, very close to achieving it.”
Smith maintains that he can deal with Beterbiev’s energy, and that he would be the one to harm the champion.
“I think you’ve just got to be smart,” the Briton stated.
“He’s a big puncher but nothing in my career so far shows that my chin’s a bit suspect or anything like that. Touch wood, I’ve never been hit or hurt or dropped as a professional. I’ve always been very confident defensively. I believe I’m pretty tidy and I can stay quite tight. I know the dangers.
“You may’t afford to take any foolish photographs,” he continued. “That is the distinction between an excellent fighter and an amazing fighter. It isn’t how exhausting you possibly can punch or how briskly you’re. It is realizing when to punch, when to not punch, the errors you make – limiting them down.
“When you’re fighting a big puncher it keeps you mentally that little bit switched on, knowing you can’t afford any mistakes at all.”
He’s adamant that he can knock Beterbiev out.
“I believe I’m a better smarter fighter. I know how good he is. I know his achievements speak for themselves. I respect him as a fighter,” Smith stated earlier than including: “Stylistically I can hit exhausting, I do know when to punch, I’ve bought good punch variation.
“I know if I land right and if I land clean I know it’ll have an effect on him. You’ve got to have that mentality as a fighter.
“I simply suppose I catch him earlier than he catches me and I can eliminate him. I genuinely do consider I’ve bought the type to beat him. It is no straightforward feat and I do know I am the underdog moving into.”
But Smith believes he will thrive as an underdog. “It provides you a bit extra of some extent to show, which is at all times good,” he said.
“After I received my world title I used to be an underdog once I beat George Groves. It is sort of good to show folks incorrect, individuals who doubted you beforehand, individuals who picked you to lose, it simply provides you somewhat bit extra of some extent to show.
“Hopefully I can show the world how good I am.”
Callum Smith challenges Artur Beterbiev reside on Sky Sports activities Enviornment from 1am and Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion from 1.15am