What do you think Callum Smith's chances are?

I expect Arthur to win but will not be surprised in the least if Callum pulls the upset.

If Arthur gets buzzed it could be all over for him due to the frightening force Smith is hitting with now. Plus the straight 1-2 is how Hunter arguably beat him in the amateurs. Given his age this is a close fight

 

I agree with everything

I had the same trepidation about Beterbiev when he faced Joe Smith and how much of a monster puncher he was but Betterbiev just completely neutralised Smith within 60 seconds.

Beterbiev has to be careful; does he start slow and work his way into the fight and let Callum show everything he has or does he look to set traps straight away and get him out of there ASAP?

A firefight war is not what either fighters wants so I suspect it will be a game of chess and who has the better game plan.

I am expecting Beterbiev to show more levels than Callum but I want to see him completely neutralise and reset Callum from round one

 

30%

 

Callum Smith might actually be a harder fight for Beterbiev than the Bivol fight will be, should that fight still happen next.
That being said, I still think Beterbiev beats Smith - by stoppage.

Beterbievs age will be questioned every fight he has, but I go by what I see and I have seen no real signs of weakness or deterioration in Beterbiev's last fights since I really started watching him in about 2016.

Gvozdyk is a fight that always springs to mind, he was a slight underdog in that fight, and he found a way to win as he always has thus far in his pro career.

I don't see Callum Smith being the first to derail the Russian/Canadian express train on route to Bivol.

 

20 to 30%

 

Rolling with Smith this weekend, I'd say he's got a 40% chance if winning if he's on his A game. If not he's getting blown out.

 

It's worth nothing that Beterbiev looked absolutely **** against Dienes and then he went onto massacre Brown and Joe Smith in his next two fights.

Against Yarde it was a stylistic issue:

Yardes home town
Motivated Yarde
Full promo weight behind him
Lots of buzz
Biased referee
Biased judge

The circumstances were different too

 

If he's backing up from clenella he's not meeting this man in the middle

 

-5

 

He has a slight chance. If Beterbiev has grown old and if smith jumps on him early but doesn’t get caught like Joe smith jr did then maybe.

I still can’t help looking back at those fights he had against Ryder and canelo though.

Beterbiev via 6th round ko

 

If Smith can land that left hook counter on Beterbiev, he might have a chance. I still favour Beterbiev though.

 

Prior to Canelo/Ryder I thought Smith could be a Champ for years. Good dig, good physical dimensions and be difficult for most fighters.
After those 2 fights though, they really took the sheen off for me- in particular Ryder fight as I felt Smith lost that one.
Be interesting how this one goes, did he always flatter to deceive or did he just have 2 crappy performances, for whatever reason