Joe Smith Jr Vs Artur Beterbiev: Odds| Records| Prediction

Joe Smith Jr. vs Artur Beterbiev billed as a can’t-miss action fight, and the ESPN main event delivered for as long as it lasted — even if it was never competitive.

Joe Smith Jr Vs Artur Beterbiev: Odds| Records| Prediction

Odds:

Smith can punch and punch hard. Given he’s a talented fighter with serious power, he’s a very live underdog at +500. That said, Beterbiev is a fantastic fighter and a level above Smith.

Smith needs to find some way to keep Beterbiev off of him and have space to let his rangy power punches go. That’s a big ask, however, as Beterbiev is outstanding at closing distance, getting inside and mauling with work to both the body and head.

Records:

Coming into Saturday’s light heavyweight title unification against Joe Smith Jr., Artur Beterbiev was the only world champion to be undefeated with a 17-0 record and have every win by knockout.

Beterbiev kept the remarkable streak intact as he’s now 18-for-18 as he dropped Smith three times to win by TKO at the 2:19 mark of the second round to remain the IBF and WBC champion and added the WBO belt with the victory.

Prediction:

In a highly anticipated light heavyweight unification showdown, WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) crushed and dethroned WBO champion.

Joe Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) in less than two rounds on Saturday night at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Smith came out aggressively, but Beterbiev dropped Smith to a knee at the end of the first round.

“I need a little bit more time (to feel what this means),” Beterbiev said in his post-fight interview. “Right now, I don’t feel it. In a couple of days, I will understand.”