As an undefeated champion, Callum Smith was convinced that he simply couldn’t be touched. It was hard to fault him for his line of thinking. At 168 pounds, Smith racked up big-time wins over George Groves and John Ryder. Canelo Alvarez, however, looked up at the towering belt holder and wanted his championship status.

After 12 lopsided rounds, the confident aura that surrounded Smith was gone. Alvarez dominated his man, pounding him round after round. If he wanted, Smith could have worked his way back up the super middleweight ranks. Instead, he opted to go in another direction.

Since making the move to the light heavyweight division, Smith has felt like a new man, stopping two fringe contenders. With those tenuous opponents out of the way, Smith will now take on arguably the best fighter at 175 pounds this weekend when he swaps fists with Artur Beterbiev.

You know how boxing works. Comparisons have always been an interesting topic. So, with Smith sharing the ring with Alvarez and on the verge of taking on another pound-for-pound level guy, he was asked to make his pick on who he considers to be the better fighter.

“I think ability and technically, Canelo is probably better,” admitted Smith to a number of reporters. “But Beterbiev is the bigger, stronger man.”

The loss to Alvarez will always follow Smith, but at the moment, Beterbiev is the only fighter on his mind.

Despite getting up there in age, the 38-year-old hasn’t lost a step. While may have made just one appearance in 2022, he made the most of it, stopping Anthony Yarde in the eighth round.

Smith knows just how dangerous Beterbiev is. No matter who’s stood in front of him, the unified champ has eventually chopped them down. Most are expecting much of the same. Those dubious voices, however, don’t bother Smith. He’s simply ready to prove that Beterbiev isn’t the unbeatable force that many believe he is.

“I know what Beterbiev brings and we’ve had a good training camp. I believe I have the style to beat him.”