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Exclusive: Buddy McGirt reveals reason he is so confident for Callum Smith ahead of Joshua Buatsi battle
Callum Smith’s quest for a world title at light-heavyweight continues this weekend when he faces Joshua Buatsi in a huge domestic blockbuster.
The fight, live on DAZN PPV, will see Smith look to earn a future shot at a world champion as he aims to bounce back from last year's brutal loss to Artur Beterbiev.
A former ruler at 168lbs, Smith had the opportunity to become a two-weight champion at the start of 2024, but he found Beterbiev too tough to overcome as he was stopped in seven rounds.
Since that loss, Smith has only fought once, a win last November that was intended to shake off some ring rust ahead of his showdown with Buatsi, a fight that is certainly a must win.
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The Liverpool man is fully confident that he has what it takes to win a world title at 175lbs, and if victorious against Buatsi, his attention will immediately turn to Saturday’s main event between Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
The two leading fighters at light heavyweight will collide for a second time and there is a real possibility that the division will open up once this rivalry is out of the way.
Buddy McGirt, Smith’s coach and one of boxing's most astute trainers, has been happy with what he has seen from his fighter these last couple of months, and he shares his fighter’s confidence that this weekend can be a glorious one.
“We’ve had a great camp and we’re all thanking God that there’s been no injuries,” said McGirt when speaking exclusively to DAZN News.
“We’ve had incredible sparring and his whole mental well-being is so much better than what it was for the Beterbiev fight. I know he’s gonna turn it on.
“Mentally and physically, believe me, his vibe is so much different for this fight. It’s like when I first met him and started training him.”
Watch Buatsi vs Smith and full Last Crescendo card live on DAZN PPV
Watch Buatsi vs Smith and the full Last Crescendo fight card, including Dubois vs Parker and Beterbiev vs Bivol, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The PPV is available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US.
Buying the DAZN PPV offers a range of extra benefits. including alternative commentary options with Adam Smith or True Geordie or Showbizz the Adult ; local language commentary; entry to a prize draw for tickets to Chris Eubank Jr. vs Connor Benn* (for UK only); and a seven-day free trial of the full DAZN platform.
Watch the fight night anywhere with DAZN via smart TV's, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, streaming devices and PC's / laptops.
For PPV costs in your country and to buy now, click here .
*UK only. Restrictions apply. See T&Cs on help.dazn.com. Full T&C's here
