Artur Beterbiev, the WBC and IBF champion, wrecked WBO champion, Joe Smith Jr, in front of a partisan audience of New York supporters at Madison Square Gardenโs Hulu Theatre, to take possession of three of the four main light heavyweight belts in boxing.
In a bout that was promoted as a hard puncher versus counter puncher match, the skill and power disparity was evident. Beterbiev had three knockdowns and was on the verge of a fourth, but Harvey Dock had had enough and spared a shaky Smith Jr.
It began early in the first round as Beterbiev pounded Smith Jr for a knockdown, the first time he had ever been knocked down. Beterbiev followed that with a barrage of blows in the second and final round, ending in another right that sent the Long Island native sagging against the ropes.
Even though he beat the count, Smith was clearly outmatched. A third knockdown followed, and the clock was ticking down to the knockout. Smith Jr was nearly knocked off his feet by Beterbievโs devastating uppercuts, and the referee stopped the fight as he was wobbling all over the place.
The 37-year-oldโs unbeaten record is intact, as is his 100% KO record, and now only Dmitry Bivol stands in his way of becoming undisputed champion. It will not be Bivol next, since Artur has agreed to fight one-time title challenger Anthony Yarde in the United Kingdom in October, but if the form pattern remains true in 2023, we could see an undisputed showdown.
