Former titlist, Callum Smith, stepped into the ring on Saturday night to take on the undefeated light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev. The match was broadcasted on ESPN and set for 12 rounds. From the opening bell, it was clear that Beterbiev meant business. He immediately started landing powerful body shots and throwing punches with bad intentions.
Smith, on the other hand, was not backing down. Despite the onslaught from Beterbiev, he managed to land some shots of his own by the end of the first round. In the second round, Beterbiev continued to apply pressure, but Smith showed resilience and was able to move and land punches to some degree.
There was no denying that Beterbiev was the stronger of the two fighters. His power shots were landing with dangerous frequency, while Smith could only hope to withstand the punishment and turn the tide of the fight with his speed advantage.
As the rounds went on, the wear and tear of battle became evident on Smith’s face. Despite the damage, he continued to fight with determination and refused to back down. However, it was clear that Smith was in over his head. In the seventh round, a brutal combination from Beterbiev sent Smith to the canvas for the first time. He managed to get up, but a second flurry from Beterbiev put him down for a second time.
At this point, legendary trainer Buddy McGirt stepped in to save Smith from further abuse by stopping the fight. Beterbiev’s dominance was almost frightening, especially considering he has yet to go the distance as a professional fighter. After the fight, Beterbiev humbly attributed his success to luck, but interviewer Bernard Osuna disagreed, praising his undeniable skill and power.
When asked about his future plans, Beterbiev expressed his desire to go for the WBA light heavyweight title, which would make him the undisputed champion of the division if he were to win it. The current holder of that belt is Dmitry Bivol, who defeated Canelo Alvarez conqueror. A potential matchup between Bivol and Beterbiev would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated showdown in the boxing world.
Promoter Bob Arum also weighed in on the possibility of the fight, stating that he believes it can be made and even suggested Saudi Arabia as a potential location. Both Bivol and Beterbiev are incredibly talented fighters, and the prospect of seeing them face off in the near future is an enticing one indeed.
Artur Beterbiev showcased his dominance and power in his fight against Callum Smith. Despite Smith’s determination, he was outmatched by the relentless assault of Beterbiev. With talk of a potential matchup with Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed title, the light heavyweight division is gearing up for an exciting clash between two incredibly skilled fighters. Boxing fans can only hope that this matchup becomes a reality and delivers the high-level action they crave.
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