One of the domestic rivals Callum Smith defeated during his WBA super middleweight championship reign senses Smith is about to pull off an upset Saturday night.
John Ryder told talkSPORT.com during an interview highlighted on its website Tuesday that he believes Smith will knock off favored Russian knockout artist Artur Beterbiev in their light heavyweight title fight.
The Montreal-based Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) has knocked out every professional opponent he has faced since he made his pro debut in June 2013. Liverpool’s Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) has also won his two light heavyweight title bouts by knockout since he suffered his lone loss – a 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez in their fight for the WBA and WBC 168-pound championships in December 2020 at Alamodome in San Antonio.
Beterbiev, 38, and Smith, 33, will fight for Beterbiev’s IBF, WBC and WBO 175-pound crowns in a 12-round main event ESPN will air from Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.
“I think it’s a great fight for Callum,” Ryder told talkSPORT.com, “especially with Beterbiev being injured and the fight being postponed. I think it’s a good sign.”
Beterbiev, who will turn 39 on January 21, has fought only once since June 2022 and will end an 11½-month layoff when he meets Smith. The unbeaten champion hasn’t fought since he stopped another Brit, Anthony Yarde (24-3, 23 KOs), in the eighth round of their 12-rounder last January 28 at OVO Arena Wembley in London.
Smith was supposed to battle Beterbiev on August 19 at Videotron Centre. Their 12-round, 175-pound championship clash was postponed late in July because Beterbiev developed an infection in his jaw following a dental procedure over the summer.
“Is age getting the better of Beterbiev now?,” Ryder asked. “Is the timing right for Callum? I know Callum’s going to his backyard for the fight and rightly so. If you want to fight a champion, then what better way to do it than in their backyard? I’ve got high hopes for Callum in this fight. I think he’ll come away victorious.”
Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) lost a debatable 12-round unanimous decision to Smith in November 2019 at Echo Arena in Liverpool.
The southpaw from London, who lost a unanimous decision to Alvarez on May 6 at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, is scheduled to return to the ring January 27. DAZN will stream Ryder’s fight against unbeaten Mexican super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) from Footprint Center in Phoenix.
ESPN’s coverage of the Beterbiev-Smith doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET. Montreal’s Christian Mbilli (25-0, 21 KOs), who fought for France at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, will open up the network’s telecast in a 10-round super middleweight match against Australia’s Rohan Murdock (27-2, 19 KOs).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.