Whilst millions of people have spent the last couple of weeks overeating and underexercising, Callum Smith has been doing the exact opposite.
Smith fights WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, in Quebec City on January 13th and spent the festive period grinding away in the gym.
The former super middleweight champion moved up to the 175lb division after losing a wide decision to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in December 2020.
After testing the waters against Gilbert Castillo, Smith (29-1, 21 KO’s) targeted the fearsome Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KO’s) and set up his shot by beating Mathieu Bauderlique in a WBC final eliminator back in August 2022. Since then, Smith has had to remain patient whilst Beterbiev first faced the WBO’s mandatory challenger, Anthony Yarde, and then suffered a serious infection in his jaw which caused this fight to be postponed for five months.
The 33-year-old told BBTV that the thought of becoming a two weight world kept him going through some long, grueling months.
“I wanna be a two weight world champion so whatever work I have to do to get there is irrelevant. I’ll do it just because it’s what I want,” he said. “I don’t hop, skip and jump the gym every day because this is what I love doing. It is hard at times and it is monotonous and repetitive. Some days are tough. I’ve got two little kids at home and that’s just as hard. Sometimes you come to the gym tired and you’ve gotta get the work done. You’ve gotta know why you’re doing it. That thought of becoming a two weight world champion is what gets me out of bed and gets me to the gym.
“The work is irrelevant. I know what I’m chasing. Thats what I’m here. If I didn’t believe I was good enough to do it I’d be sitting at home with my slippers on and enjoying life.”
It is more than 11 years since Smith burst on to the scene as the youngest of the talented Smith brothers. A talented amateur with physical gifts and knockout power, his success was almost taken for granted.
Smith sailed through domestic level and when he stopped George Groves to win the prestigious World Boxing Super Series in 2018, he also became the Ring Magazine champion at 168lbs. Since then, he has been looking for another major scalp to put a cap on an excellent career.
His first opportunity passed him by. ’Canelo’ dominated their fight from the start and never allowed Smith – who was hampered by a serious bicep injury – to get any kind of foothold. Now he gets another opportunity. Beating a fighter like Beterbiev on away soil would elevate him to a different level.
It would also open the path to a shot at the undisputed light heavyweight title. WBA champion, Dmitry Bivol, lies in wait for the winner.
“I’ve achieved a lot. I’ve achieved maybe more than I could have imagined. I was number one in the world and I’ve got a Ring magazine belt sitting at home which is a belt I never thought I’d achieve,” he said.
“Am I satisfied? No. I do believe I want more and I’m gonna get more.”