Callum Johnson takes on Artur Beterbiev confident that world title 'is written in the stars'

Callum Johnson, the British light heavyweight champion, thinks about his late father all the time. Paul Johnson, affectionately known as 'Johno', passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in 2016 at the age of 52. Callum was almost broken by grief, doubled up in emotional knots.

It was Paul who had instilled the love of boxing in his son and Saturday night's International Boxing Federation light heavyweight world title bout against Russia's unbeaten Artur Beterbiev will be fought as much for his father as for Callum.

“He was known as 'Johno', but it was always Dad to me," he says. "It’s mad really, because [to] his real, real close friends he was always Paul. Everybody else, he was Johno. I’ve got Johno on my hand. I named my son after him, Clay Johno. I could sit and talk about my dad all day.”

“Boxing was his sport," the Lincolnshire lad explained to The Telegraphbefore heading to the United States. "I can remember as young as five years old punching my dad’s hand . He trained me from day one. He trained me right up until the day he died. No matter where I’ve been in my career, he’s been a big part of my training."