NEWS: CALLUM SMITH EAGER TO BECOME TWO WEIGHT CHAMPION, READY TO FACE ARTUR BETERBIEV

By: Jay Calderon

Former world Super Middleweight champion Callum Smith is within arm's reach of attempting to capture gold in his second weight class as a professional.

Smith, who last competed in August of last year, earning fourth round stoppage win over Mathieu Bauderlique in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, is now the mandatory challenger for Light-Heavyweight titlist Artur Beterbiev's WBC portion of his crown.

While the team of Beterbiev are hoping to stage a unification bout with fellow titlist Dmitry Bivol, Smith is hoping to enact his shot at the gold sooner rather than later. Smith hopes to take a tune-up in or around March, before going after the unbeaten powerhouse in Beterbiev.

And while one doesn't expect Smith to pick an absolute world-beater, Callum admits he isn't interested in soft touches at this point in his career.

"It's a bit of a tricky one. But if I'm good enough to beat Beterbiev, which I believe I am, I should be good enough to beat anyone else I the meantime, as long as I stay focused and motivated," Smith told Sky Sports.

To his credit, Smith has seemingly always looked to challenge himself in the sport. At 168 pounds, Smith world the World Boxing Super Series with a win over former titlist George Groves, and even battled Canelo Alvarez in a losing effort back in December of 2020 in his only losing outing as a pro.

However, now rejuvenated at 175 pounds, Smith believes he's in prime position to dethrone the man with the perfect knockout streak in Beterbiev. And when and where the bout takes place doesn't seem to concern the Liverpool native.

"I don't think the venue matters too much to myself. I'll fight, whether I have to go to America for it, England, either or. I just want that fight. That's the goal. That's why I'm still boxing. That's why I'm going away to camp. It's to be a two-weight world champion," Smith explained.

While an unlikely foe for Beterbiev to some, Smith could pose problems for the Russian. Smith, a solid boxer-puncher with solid pop in his shot, is fundamentally sound and has around five inches of reach over Beterbiev.

Should the pair meet, it would be an interesting style of clash, especially considering that at 32 years of age, Smith is far closer to his prime than the 38-year-old Beterbiev.