Callum Johnson (17-0, 12 KOs) is very motivated ahead of the biggest opportunity of his entire pro career.
As BoxingScene.com recently reported, promoter Eddie Hearn is finalizing the terms of Johnson's mandatory crack at IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KOs), who would make the first defense of his title.
After several boxers turned down a crack at Beterbiev, who is one of the most feared fighters at the weight, Johnson jumped on the chance.
Enough fighters turned down a mandatory title shot, that Johnson - ranked at eight - got the nod.
"These opportunities don't come around every day and, when my promoter Eddie Hearn showed me the letter from the IBF offering the fight, I jumped at it," Johnson exclusively told Sky Sports.
"I'm in the game to be in the biggest and best fights possible. I've dreamt of winning a world title since I was a kid so I'm not going to turn down this chance because he [Beterbiev] is this apparent beast. I believe I am a beast as well and can beat him."
Johnson is feeling pretty pumped after coming off a one round blowout of Frank Buglioni.
He is very familiar with Beterbiev and followed his progress since the amateur days.
"I know a lot about him, we was in the amateurs at the same time, I used to watch him and he's always been the force that he is," Johnson said.
"At the same time, we're all human, I don't fear any man so all the talk of how big and strong he is, his power, it's all very well and good, but at the end of the day, he's human. I don't fear him."
The fight being finalized is waiting on the outcome of Beterbiev's ongoing legal battle with Yvon Michel of Canada. The two sides are wrangling over the terms of their promotional agreement.
