What was supposed to be a competitive fight, turned out to be a pure slaughter with IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) knocking out WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.
In a surprisingly easy victory, IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) obliterated a hapless WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.
There will be a lot on the line in tonight’s three-belt light-heavyweight unification showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr.
IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay says he will want WBA champ Dmitry Bivol next if he successfully defeats WBO belt holder Joe Smith Jr.
WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) knows what he’s up against in taking on the killer puncher IBF/WBC champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) on Saturday night.
Oddsmaker favorite IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev weighed in at the limit of 175 lbs on Friday’s weigh-in for his unification match against WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.
If the bookmakers are to be proven correct, Artur Beterbiev will defeat Joe Smith Jr at Madison Square Garden and become the holder of three of the four major world titles at light-heavyweight on Saturday night.
This Saturday night in the main event, Artur Beterbiev faces Joe Smith Jr. LIVE on ESPN. The lineal title is held firmly by Beterbiev (not in the Ring rankings), and according to the betting lines on paper, one would think the result is almost predetermined.
Joe Smith Jr. doesn’t mind that the oddsmakers have him listed as a 5 to 1 underdog against Artur Beterbiev in their scheduled 12-round main event fight this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Bob Arum believes light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. will be a “major challenge” for Canelo Alvarez should he choose to return to the 175-lb division later this year to try and fulfill his goal of becoming undisputed.