In the Top Rank boxing main event that took place in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Saturday night live on ESPN, unified WBC, WBO, and IBF world light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev broke down Callum Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) and scored a seventh-round stoppage.
It was an impressive performance by Artur Beterbiev as he displayed a combination of patience and power. Beterbiev took his time, assumed control of the fight, and then when the opportunity presented itself, Beterbiev closed the show.
In the opening round of the light heavyweight unification world title bout, the 5 foot 11 inch Beterbiev immediately closed the distance on the 6 foot 3 inch Callum Smith. Once Beterbiev got inside, he landed a flurry of shots.
In the final minute of the opening round, Smith was able to press forward and work off the jab, but Beterbiev closed out the round by landing solid shots to the head and body of his opponent. The highlight of the second round was the big thumping right hand that Beterbiev landed to the body of Callum Smith.
In the third round, Smith pressed forward and threw a three-punch combination. Artur Beterbiev proceeded to take over the round by landing the power jab, shots to the body, and a hard-chopping right hand.
At the start of the fourth round, the action between the two boxers was back and forth. Suddenly, Smith was in serious danger when Beterbiev landed a flurry of shots. Later in the same round, Smith was able to come back and land a solid uppercut.
For the next couple of rounds, Beterbiev continued to control the range and distance. Smith was a game opponent as he tried to compete, but at this point, Beterbiev’s short punches were starting to do significant damage.
With 2:04 left to go in the 7th round, Beterbiev caught Smith with a big right hand that knocked Smith off balance. Beterbiev proceeded to land a flurry of shots that sent Callum Smith down to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Smith was able to get up, but once again, Beterbiev landed a flurry of shots that sent Smith back down to the canvas. Callum Smith’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, stepped inside the ring in order to get the referee’s attention. Once the referee noticed McGirt, he immediately put a halt to the contest.
With the win, Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) is in prime position to get the fight he’s been asking for. Beterbiev is currently the unified light heavyweight champion, but if everything goes according to plan, in his next bout, he will be fighting for the undisputed crown.
“It’s not done yet, but we want to do it,” Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum stated. “I’ll be talking to my friend, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I know he wants to do it, but Ramadan is coming. So, about three months after the end of Ramadan, we’ll be ready to fight Dmitry Bivol, probably in Riyadh.”
Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is the WBA world light heavyweight champion who defeated Canelo Alvarez back in May 2022.
Beterbiev and Bivol both have aspirations to be undisputed and pretty soon, we will get the skilled puncher vs. ring technician matchup.
