Beterbiev immediately seized the initiative and worked as number one throughout the entire fight. In the fourth round, he was close to an early victory, but Smith managed to survive the barrage of his punches.
The denouement took place in the seventh three-minute period: Arthur caught his opponent with a right counterhook and then carried out a finishing move. The Briton was knocked down twice, after which the referee decided to stop the fight.
It is expected that in the next fight Beterbiev will unify with WBA title holder Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia.