Callum Smith makes Artur Beterbiev prediction as he sends message to 'doubters'

Callum Smith is confident that he will be able to prove his doubters wrong when he faces Artur Beterbiev this weekend.

Smith challenges Beterbiev for the unified WBO, WBC and IBF light-heavyweight world titles in the early hours of Sunday morning, live on Sky Sports. The former Archbishop Beck pupil was set to challenge Beterbiev in August, but the champion suffered a jaw infection, meaning the 33-year-old has had to wait for his chance to become a two-weight world champion.

So far in his professional career, Beterbiev has been unrelenting and gone unbeaten, compiling a 19-0 record with 19 knockouts. But despite the 38-year-old’s perfect record, Smith believes it will be him who comes out on top when they meet at the Videotron Centre in Quebec.

He said: "I definitely do believe I will prove all the doubters wrong. I know how good I am, I know how good I can be. Sometimes you don't really get the opportunity to show that.

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“This time I've got the best fight possible for me in this division and if I win I become a two-weight world champion, three world titles.

"That's been the biggest motivation for me these last few camps and I'm very, very close to achieving it."

Smith continued: "I think you've just got to be smart. He's a big puncher, but nothing in my career so far shows that my chin's a bit suspect or anything like that.

“Touch wood, I've never been hit or hurt or dropped as a professional. I've always been very confident defensively. I believe I'm pretty tidy and I can stay quite tight. I know the dangers.

"You can't afford to take any silly shots.