A Modern day David V Goliath – Beterbiev V Johnson – Preview
Brit Callum Johnson will face Russian powerhouse Artur Beterbiev on Sunday at 3am (BST) in Chicago in a bid to bring the IBF Lightweight title to England.
Beterbiev, who is making his first world title defence of his crown will be hoping he can keep hold of the belt he earned a year ago.
The 33 year-old has gained considerable fame in the light heavyweight division after a glittering amateur career that included winning two world and one European championships.
During his professional career, he has managed to amass a 100% knockout ratio with 12 knockouts from 12 fights. A feat not even Heavyweights Deontay Wilder (98%) and Anthony Joshua (94%) could match.
“Artur the Great” has also earned significant praise knocking former IBF King Tavoris Cloud out in the 6th round, before then following that up with a knockout against then-unbeaten speedster Jeff Page JR.
Despite winning the title a year ago against Enrico Koelling promotional fall-outs have stunted the Russian’s rise to the top. With his ability he should be a household name, but in 2 and a half years has only fought 3 times.
Meanwhile Callum Johnson, who added the British lightweight strap to his commonwealth belt in March 2018 will be hoping to use his experience to best Beterbiev.
Despite claims that Beterbiev will “wipe the floor with Johnson” the Brit has the stats to match his opponent with Johnson also sitting on 12 career knockouts in 17 fights. Not to mention, if the fight does go the distance the stats further support the Lincolnshire born light heavyweight who has 54 rounds to his name; superior to that of the 43 that his opponent holds.
The fight itself has taken on a deeper meaning for the 33 year-old wanting to win the belt in dedication to his late father, who passed away in 2016.
An emotional Johnson speaking in an interview with the BBC vowed to “win the belt for my dad.”
“If I win the World Title in Chicago it would be everything. A dream come true, especially for my dad. I could just lay down that belt with him and say we did it”
“He always told me I would fight for world titles one day, and it’s so nice to give him that.”
The Brit also stated that if I could lay the title across his dad’s grave he could “forever rest in peace.”
“The One” will be hoping to replicate the success of fellow countryman and gym mate Callum Smith, who beat George Groves to gain his own World Title belt in late September 2018.
Despite being the more experienced of the pair, it is Beterbiev who the bookmakers tout to win the clash.
Should the fight go as the bookmakers predict, with the Russian beating the Brit then a fight with Adonic Stevenson looks to be on the cards.
Stevenson, who lives in the same city as Beterbiev in Montreal currently holds the WBC light-heavyweight title after winning the belt in 2013.
For his part, underdog Callum Johnson has kept quiet over who he will fight next should he come out victorious. Yet his trainer Joe Gallagher has billed Johnson as “the biggest success story of 2018” should he overcome Beterviev.