As we kick off a new year in the boxing calendar, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn takes some time to give his take on a number of bouts his fighters will be involved in early this year, including a light heavyweight fight between Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith. Check out some excerpts of what Hearn had to say on the topics below.
Hearn on believing Callum Smith will beat Artur Beterbiev
“Every time I think about this fight, you know, as Callum does, just catch/counter, I can see him knocking out Artur Beterbiev out cold in Quebec. It’s a tough task but I really believe he’s going to do it and people give him a good shot in that fight, and I do. I really believe Callum Smith will beat Beterbiev and become the unified light heavyweight world champion, two division world champion as well.
“(Injuries are mounting on Beterbiev) and age, you know, had to pull out the first fight. Saw him against Yarde, obviously a very good fighter, but just started to show a few signs I think he can be hurt but a big danger and Callum has to be spot on. But I believe he’ll do it.”
On John Ryder taking on Jaime Munguia
“That’s a massive fight for Johnny, coming of the Canelo fight, which he did so well in. Once he got his confidence in that fight he really started to perform down the stretch and he’ll go into this fight with a lot of confidence.”
On Sunny Edwards immediate future
“I think with Bam moving up, some of those belts could become vacant at flyweight. But also Sunny has talked about the possibility of moving down to 108 or maybe moving up to 115. So we’ll have to see but I want Sunny back in for a world title in his next fight.”
On Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
“I think Tyson Fury wins the fight. It all depends on if what we saw in the Ngannou fight was just him not taking it seriously, or if it was him in decline he’s going to have a tough night against Usyk.
“I think he’s going to be too big in that fight if he’s switched on properly, which you’d expect him to do and be. I expect him to win, but you can’t rule out Oleksandr Usyk. It’s a tremendous heavyweight clash, another massive fight in Saudi Arabia, and great for the heavyweight division and great for boxing that we’re seeing that undisputed fight.”