Callum Johnson: I’ve got the power to KO anyone

British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Callum Johnson (17-0, 12 KO) will get his crack at a world title on October 6 in Chicago, when he faces IBF champion Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KO) live on DAZN from Wintrust Arena.

The 32-year-old Johnson says he knows he’s the underdog, but thinks it’ll be an exciting fight between two big punchers:

“I know what I’m up against. I’m a massive underdog, but Kovalev got beat last weekend. I know for a fact I’ve got the power to knock anybody out, so if I land on his chin clean, he’s not going to stand up to it, because there’s not anybody out there that can. Vice-versa, if he lands on my chin clean, I’m probably not going to stand up to it, but that’s what makes it exciting. We’re both strong, compact fighters and I’m sure we won’t have to go looking for each other.”

Johnson will indeed be a big underdog, but Beterbiev, 33, hasn’t exactly kept himself active, either. Maybe that’s something fans and media overrated — to some degree, it probably is — but it could be a factor. Beterbiev hasn’t fought since November 2017, when he beat Enrico Koelling to win the vacant belt, and that was his only fight since December 2016.

Then again, Johnson missed all of 2017 and came back in March of this year to knock out Frank Buglioni in a round, so maybe it doesn’t matter at all.

Still, it’s arguably the best fight on Eddie Hearn’s card on October 6, and could indeed be a fun fight between a couple of guys looking to do damage early and often.