Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. faced off in a light heavyweight title unification, Saturday night in New York. Beterbiev came in undefeated with the with the WBC and IBF titles, while Smith entered the contest as the WBO champion.
Both men have reputations as hard punchers, but the knockout artist in Beterbiev clearly had the heavier hands and he went home with those three light heavyweight belts. Beterbiev scored a knockdown late in the opening round, and twice again soon after the second round started. He wobbled him again moments later, prompting the referee to mercifully put a stop in the action.
With the quick victory, Beterbiev improves his record to 18-0 and continues his insane 100% KO rate, as every single one of those wins have come by stoppage.
Official result: Artur Beterbiev def. Joe Smith Jr. by TKO, 2:19 of round 2.
Watch highlights from the bout below:
“Get me to the ring as quick as possible.”#BeterbievSmith LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/tyOYYFvfcG
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 19, 2022
TIME TO SINK OR SWIM #BeterbievSmith live NOW on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/JKEBXedByh
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 19, 2022
Wasting NO time… Joe Smith Jr. touches the canvas to close Round 1 #BeterbievSmith pic.twitter.com/t2BC9Wo1OV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 19, 2022
TWO ROUNDS.
ALL IT TOOK #BeterbievSmith pic.twitter.com/9vy4anejQA
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 19, 2022
FLAWLESS VICTORY
Four knockdowns = three belts #BeterbievSmith pic.twitter.com/YYkNHvBLXR
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 19, 2022
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