Every time Eddie Hearn thinks about the Artur Beterbiev-Callum Smith fight, Smith’s promoter envisions Smith knocking Beterbiev out cold.

Hearn remembers another Brit named Callum dropping Beterbiev with a left hook five years ago, but he expects Smith to finish the job Callum Johnson failed to complete in October 2018 when he battles Beterbiev on January 13 in Quebec City, Canada. Hearn explained his take on the Beterbiev-Smith showdown during an interview that was posted Monday to Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.

“Yeah, you know, you can just see it, you know?,” Hearn said. “I mean, I remember when Callum Johnson fought Artur Beterbiev years ago. It was actually our first-ever Matchroom Boxing USA show on DAZN. And he dropped Beterbiev with a left hook. I can just – 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.”

The hard-hitting Johnson’s shot sent Beterbiev to the canvas just after the halfway point of the second round of their fight for Beterbiev’s IBF light heavyweight title. Beterbiev eventually recovered and landed a short, right hand that knocked Johnson down and out in the fourth round of a main event DAZN streamed from Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

That taught Hearn that one of the most pulverizing punchers in boxing is dangerous at any point in a fight.

“It’s a tough task, but I really believe [Callum is] gonna do it,” Hearn said. “And, you know, 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. Can’t wait to be there. And, you know, it’s one of those nights where you go and get victory over there, and it’s just one that you really remember.”

The Russian-born, Montreal-based Beterviev (19-0, 19 KOs), who will turn 39 on January 21, was supposed to make a mandated defense of his WBC light heavyweight title against England’s Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) on August 19 in Quebec City. Their 12-round, 175-pound title fight was postponed last summer once Beterbiev developed an infection in his jaw after having dental surgery.

Injuries and a legal battle against former promoter Yvon Michel have combined to limit Beterbiev to just 19 fights during his 10-year professional career. Hearn believes Beterbiev isn’t the same fighter he once was due to those physical setbacks and Father Time.

“And age,” Hearn said. “You know, he had to pull out of the first fight [with Smith]. You know, saw him against [Anthony] Yarde, obviously a very good fighter, but just started to show a few signs. You know, I think he can be hurt. But a big danger, and Callum’s gotta get it spot on. But I believe he’ll do it.”

Liverpool’s Smith knocked out Dominican veteran Lenin Castillo (24-5-1, 19 KOs) in the second round and French southpaw Mathieu Bauderlique (21-2, 12 KOs) in the fourth round of his two light heavyweight fights since his lopsided points loss to undisputed super middleweight champ Canleo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) in December 2020 at Alamodome in San Antonio. Hearn realizes, of course, that those two opponents pale in comparison to Beterbiev, who owns the IBF, WBC and WBO titles.

“His two fights at light heavyweight, obviously against opposition not to the levels of Beterbiev, but iced them,” Hearn said. “And he can really punch. You know, he was at 168 for a long time, struggling to make the weight. So, this is a big shootout in Quebec.”

ESPN will broadcast Beterbiev-Smith as the main event of a two-bout broadcast from Videotron Centre. Undefeated French super middleweight contender Christian Mbilli (25-0, 21 KOs) will square off against Australia’s Rohan Murdock (27-2, 19 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature of a telecast scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.