CALLUM SMITH has a decision to make.
Having put himself through two full training camps but with no fight at the end of either he now must decide whether to put the second one to good use.
In March this year Smith pulled out of a fight through injury and now weeks of preparation for Artur Beterbiev 19-0 (19) could go to waste.
Smith was due to challenge the unbeaten Canadian-based Russian for his light-heavyweight championship on August 19 in Quebec City. However, last week the fight was postponed after it was revealed Beterbiev had sustained an infection to his jawbone. The fight will be rescheduled but Smith is in the dark as to when that may be.
With no fight since August 2022 Smith 29-1 (21) is keen to get back into the ring.
“I’m in good shape, I’d like to put it to good use,” he told Boxing News.
“I was meant to fight in March, I pulled out a week before that. That was on me with my injury but it’s still two camps back-to-back with potentially no fight at the end of it. It’s not ideal but hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement where I can get back active or Beterbiev’s not too long and the wait’s not too much longer to get back in there.”
The champion’s last fight came against Anthony Yarde in what was a brutal contest. Beterbiev came out on top but not without some bumps and scrapes for his troubles. Smith knew of Beterbeiv’s talent during their amateur days and is well-aware how good the 37-year-old has become. But having watched him be dropped during two fights in the past, including once against Smith’s former gym-mate Callum Johnson, and the problems Yarde caused him it increases the Liverpudlian’s belief that he can get the job done.
“His record and achievements speak for themselves, but I never watched him and thought he was unbeatable. He is there to be hit; he can be hurt. I’ve seen him put over twice.
“The media and the public like to create this image of a monster. He might be a monster but he’s not invincible, he can be hurt. When you see someone else do it, it gives you full belief that I can do it myself. I’m confident in my own power, my own abilities. When you see other fighters have him over and have him hurt then it gives me more incentive to go in there and finish the job.”
