Artur Beterbiev is a man of few words. Undoubtedly, this is partly due to the language barrier, even though his English has become very good after 10 years in the country (and he is capable of speaking short phrases in French, like “comment ça go,” specifies his trainer Marc Ramsay).
Still, the Chechen boxer doesn’t need to say much for his response to be poignant. Even when accompanied by a smile or a wink.
Just over a month before his return to the ring against England’s Callum Smith on January 13 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec, the man considered one of the best “pound for pound” boxers on the planet – 19 wins (all by knockout) without a loss – had two things to say to his future opponent.
Artur Beterbiev party 2
Because Smith is a big problem, with his almost perfect record of 29-1 (21 KOs). His only loss came at the hands of a certain Canelo Alvarez. It was a setback, and since then, the 33-year-old Englishman has made the leap from super middleweight to light heavyweight.
He has two wins in as many fights.
“Greatest challenge”
Ramsay himself called this showdown “Beterbiev’s greatest challenge” a few months ago.
As for Smith, he recently reiterated that he believed he could be knocked out by the 38-year-old Russian, therefore taking his IBF, WBC, and WBO belts with a single punch.
Belts that were also prominently displayed on the edge of the ring at the forefront of the Laurier Québec shopping mall last Saturday during the public training session organized by Eye of the Tiger Management.
Photo Credit: Photo Didier Debusschère
But let’s return to those two famous “messages,” the ones boxers like to send when a fight is approaching.
First, when asked how he felt about entering a fight against a boxer who is considered “second behind him in practically every category,” Beterbiev said, “Oh, let him be second in all of them. Second place doesn’t interest me.”
Then, when asked about Smith’s words, who believes he can knock him out, Beterbiev responded, seemingly unconcerned, “He can think whatever he wants.”
“He’s a boxer”
The truth is, Beterbiev respects his upcoming rival. “He’s a good boxer,” he said, adding tauntingly that he didn’t know much more about him than the fact, precisely, “that he’s a boxer.”
Photo Credit: Photo Didier Debusschère
Of course, as that well-worn boxing cliché goes, the Russian prefers to talk with his fists. And he can’t wait to do so, especially after his scheduled fight last August was canceled so he could undergo emergency dental surgery.
A decision that he says was the right one. “But now I’m ready. Whether I’m mad or hungry, it’s up to you.”
A fourth in his collection
And Beterbiev didn’t seem to be talking about Thai food or fried chicken, despite the aromas filling the air as he was in the ring during his training, witnessed by about a hundred people, many of whom had stopped their holiday shopping to witness this flurry of punches.
Photo Credit: Photo Didier Debusschère
No, he’s more eager to add a fourth belt to his collection. The WBA, which currently belongs to Dmitry Bivol.
“Because belts, much like suits, represent the boxer. When you have three, you want a fourth.”
But before thinking about this potential fight, which could take place in Saudi Arabia, Beterbiev will first have to increase his unblemished record to 20 wins by defeating Smith on January 13.
The ticket sales for this event, which will also feature Frenchman Christian Mbilli (25-0, 21 KOs) and several local boxers, including Wilkens Mathieu and Leïla Beaudoin, are going very well, says Eye of the Tiger Management. The goal is to accommodate 10,000 spectators.