Beterbiev Vs Smith

Can see Smith going in survival mode for 12 rounds again.

There's no shame in losing if you give it your best shot. Hate it when fighters get in the ring with the mindset of not to get stopped rather than to win.

Hopefully I'm proven wrong and Smith will give it a good shot

 

The most likely outcome is that Smith does a repeat of the Canelo fight. He fights behind the jab, then feels Beterbiev's power.

Then he spends the rest of the fight putting out a jab, moving two steps back with the ear muffs on. Praying not to get hit again.

If you look at his career, his only decent win is over a shot Groves with a serious shoulder injury. Has he beaten any great fighters in their primes at world level?

Think he gets stopped late, after pulling out another Canelo performance from the locker.

Beterbiev is an old man, and does break down at some point. But think this fight is bread and butter for him, even at his age.

 

Both have been inactive so it eill be interesting to see who can find their range first. Smith needs to just put it on the line early and get Beterbievs respect otherwise he will get broken down and badly beaten.
Does Smith turn up just happy to get his money? I don't know what it is, maybe its because I hear more things from here than Canada but I can't help thinking Smith might take Beterbiev out.

 

That is a hell of a prediction and I would be shocked if that happened. Smith is tough though, but Beterbiev clearly on points for me.

Do appreciate Beterbiev age though, however Smith was clueless when he boxed Canelo losing pretty much every round and changing nothing inbetween.

 

Age is going to catch up to Beterbiev at some point but would be nice to see him and Bivol go at it before he's washed up

 

I don't think the Canelo fight is particularly relevant to the outcome of this one; Canelo is a shorter fighter with exquisite head movement, Smith quite simply could not pin him down. Beterbiev is far more upright and does not particularly move his head, he also has an unfortunate habit of squaring up. Smith has real power at LHW, and he can tag Beterbiev with the catch and counter left hook or straight right hand. I will probably end up being wildly wrong but I fancy Smith for the upset.

 

Smith doesn't control the distance well enough. He should be able to keep guys on the outside where his power can be used but to often guys get inside and cause him trouble. Bad news against Beterbiev.

If he can land the big shots from distance he has a big chance but I just don't see AB letting him have the time to set himself for them.
Both are upright both can be cought.

People will rightly say Canelo is a different type of fighter than AB in terms of inside work but he also struggled with Canelos power at times I don't see him last the distance with KO king like Beterbiev. Smiths also been pretty inactive and I don't think that's good prep for facing killer like AB.

Beterbiev inside 7

 

I've fancied Mundo to stop him to the body. I have no real reason just a gut feeling no pun intended

 

Good quote from Smith when interviewed by Sky a few weeks after the Canelo loss:

Hopefully he goes for it and makes it a good matchup. I'm narrowly going for Beterbiev, but a Smith win would not shock me.

 

I think beterbiev, although a beast is there for the taking, he has huge injury problems, he’s looking worse and worse on the scales, and he’s getting on, I’m just not sure Smith has the nutsack required to get the job done, I think he has his moments, maybe hurts beterbiev but Beterbiev rallies and stops him late

 

Smith has no chance.

The same people who thought Sunny Edwards had a shot against Bam are backing Smith.

Beterbiev stoppage.

 

Smith getting stopped in the 9th

I predict he'll give it more of a go than that pathetic display against Canelo but not going to be enough

 

Artur is vulnerable, but a stiff 1-2 merchant who needs his feet set to throw is a favourable matchup for him

we’ll be seeing Callum putting on the earmuffs and getting his ribs tenderised on the ropes I think

 

I think the correlation between the 2 fights is relevant, because Canelo stood in front of Smith and beat him up for whole 12 rounds. It’s not like he boxed him, he battered him and pretty much broke his arm.