Artur Beterbiev retains his titles and remains undefeated with a KO victory in the 7th round against Callum Smith. Smith shows resilience but ultimately succumbs to Beterbiev’s powerful punches and relentless pressure. Beterbiev proves to be the most devastating puncher among world champions in any weight class, with a perfect record of 20-0, all by knockout. Artur Beterbiev scores another finish by defeating Callum Smith to retain his WBC, IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles. Beterbiev is now posed to fight Dmitry Bivol later this year in a unification bout in Saudi Arabia.
Smith has never been knocked down in his career and his only loss up to this point was a unanimous decision to Canelo Alvarez. Beterbiev is now 20-0 with 20 knockouts, making him the most devastating puncher among world champions in any weight class.
Artur Beterbiev initiated the bout with a rapid start in the first round, pushing Callum Smith against the ropes and delivering a series of hooks. However, Smith found his rhythm in the latter part of the round, connecting with some effective shots. The initial round is awarded to Beterbiev.
During the second round, Beterbiev persists in tracking his opponent, while Smith employs a diverse range of punches to confound the champion. In this round, the victory goes to Smith.
In the third round, Beterbiev found success with his powerful jab, while Smith managed to land some effective shots of his own. Despite the reach disparity, Beterbiev demonstrated more success with the jab, gradually breaking down Smith. Another round for Beterbiev.
In the fourth round, Beterbiev inflicted significant damage on Smith midway through the round, capitalizing on a strong start. Despite being badly hurt, Smith demonstrated resilience by fighting back and throwing his own shots amidst the onslaught. Beterbiev secured the round victory through his effective inside work and relentless pressure.
In the fifth round, Smith unleashed a flurry of punches, but Beterbiev maintained a solid defense and sought opportunities for counters. Beterbiev showcased his defensive skills by making his opponent miss, and he found success with short, powerful punches, ultimately securing another round in his favor.
In the sixth round, Beterbiev initiated with a significant right hand, absorbed well by Smith. The challenger managed to land some solid body shots, yet Beterbiev remained undeterred. Despite Smith having his moments, Beterbiev ultimately claimed the round with his impactful strikes and high-volume punching.
In the seventh round, Beterbiev commenced aggressively, prompting a spirited response from Smith. The champion effectively countered Smith, achieving a significant milestone by knocking him down for the first time in his career. Capitalizing on the momentum, Beterbiev secured a second knockdown and ultimately concluded the fight by finishing the former super-middleweight champion.
