In the long-awaited fight for the unification of light heavyweight titles, the WBC and IBF world champion Arthur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) defeated and overthrew the WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) in less than two rounds in the main event of the evening at the Hulu Theater Arena at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Smith started the fight aggressively, but Beterbiev forced Smith to kneel at the end of the first round. Beterbiev ended the rout by dropping Smith twice in the second round and leaving referee Harvey Dock with no choice but to stop the fight after the ensuing streak. Stop time 2:19.
Thus, Beterbiev remains the only world champion with a 100% knockout rate and continues his reign at 79 kg.
“My coach told me that I was not that far away to become a good boxer,” Beterbiev said after the fight. — Joe was a little open, and it was easier for me to get him. We both have a good hit, and we both tried to turn on first. I was lucky that I was the first."
WBO mandatory contender Anthony Yarde, who could be first in line to fight Beterbiev this fall, was watching what was happening at the ringside. Beterbiev's preference is a fight with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, who recently defeated Canelo Alvarez.
“Unification fights are more interesting, they motivate,” Beterbiev admitted. “I prefer a unification fight. I want to become the absolute champion.”
