The perfect knockout streak continues.
Artur Beterbiev retained his IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight titles by becoming the first fighter to finish former super middleweight champion Callum Smith with a seventh-round TKO in Quebec City.
There were questions regarding Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), who turns 39 in eight days. Would Father Time catch up to him against arguably his toughest test to date?
The answer was a resounding no as Beterbiev powered through Smith for the duration of the fight with a piston-like jab and thudding power shots. Smith (29-2) had never been knocked down, much less knocked out, throughout his pro and amateur career. That all changed when he tasted the power of Beterbiev.
The difference in power was evident early as Beterbiev constantly moved Smith back with his jab and short shots. The Brit attempted to battle back but his face began to fall apart from the power of Beterbiev in round three.
The fight was originally slated for August 19 but Beterbiev was forced out of the fight due to jaw infection from dental surgery. As the first major bout of 2024 with a lot on the line as a potential undisputed light heavyweight showdown with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol looms large, Beterbiev did his part to secure his end of the fight.
"I need a fourth belt," Beterbiev said.
Smith attempted to rally but Beterbiev systematically broke him down as each round was worse than the previous one. The jab pierced Smith's defense and routinely set up the power shots for Beterbiev. With his face showing some terrible swelling, Smith got desperate and ran into a blistering right hand in the seventh round. The shot put Smith on skates as Beterbiev bounced his gloves off the head and body of the Brit until he hit the canvas for the first time in his career.
The end was elementary as Smith's heart brought him back to his feet but his body refused to comply. Beterbiev barrelled forward with another vicious salvo of punches that crumpled Smith to the mat. The referee administered the count but Smith's trainer Buddy McGirt climbed into the ring to rescue his fighter from further damage.
The only fight that makes sense now is an undisputed fight with Bivol and it appears that we may finally get the showdown later this year.
Here's how it all went down in Canada.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith live updates, highlights, results
Artur Betevbiev vs. Callum Smith
Round Seven: Big right hand rocks Smith and has him in trouble. Beterbiev with a combination and Smith goes down for the first time in his career! He's in bad shape. Beterbiev storms in and levels Smith with a combination that crumbles him to the canvas! Smith's trainer Buddy McGirt steps into the ring to stop the fight. It's over!
SN Unofficial Scorecard: --
Round Six: Beterbiev opens the round with a lead right hand that stuns Smith. The Brit isn't backing down but he's not taking the punches as well as he did earlier. Smith is busy and finding his mark but the Beterbiev power is much, much harder. Beterbeiv going to work on Smith along the ropes and chops him with a right hand. Smith bounces back with a combination. Smith is fighting but it's an uphill battle.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev (60-54 Beterbiev)
Round Five: Smith attempts to use the jab to keep the fight in the center of the ring. He's working hard as Beterbiev fends him off with his own jab. Short right hand from Beterbiev lands and Smith backs off. Blood from Smith's nose. Smith having a solid round and is busy but Beterbiev clocks him with a right hand to move him back. A close round but Smith appeared to get the worst of it.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev (50-45 Beterbiev)
Round Four: Beterbiev turns up the heat a little more and lands a hard right hand. Smith trying to fight back and rumbles inside. Beterbiev peppering Smith and has his opponent in trouble. Beterbiev senses Smith wilting and clobbers him with power shots. The champion is just too strong for Smith. Beterbiev puts a right hand behind the jab. Smith lands a hard uppercut. Beterbiev's jab is like a piston. Combination from Smith lands but it's not enough to get him the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev (40-36 Beterbiev)
Round Three: Beterbiev starts fast again and lands a jab and a right hand but Smith battles back with his own jab and hook. Smith is scoring when he throws multiple punches. Beterbiev drills Smith with a hard jab. Good body work from Smith. Right hand to the body and a left up top connects for Beterbiev. Jabs from the champion pushing Smith's head back. Hard right uppercut from Beterbiev stuns Smith. Smith's face is showing some swelling and it appears that the pendulum has fully swung in the champ's favor.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev (30-27 Beterbiev)
Round Two: Beterbiev darts forward and lands a pair of hooks. Short right hand over the top from Beterbiev lands clean. Smith attacks but is catching arms and gloves. Big right hand to the body from Beterbiev. Smith starts to come forward but Beterbiev backs him off with a jab. Smith mixes up his punches and a few get through the guard.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev (20-18 Beterbiev)
Round One: Beterbiev wastes no time rushing Smith and mauls him with power punches. Smith weathers the storm and resets to the center of the ring. Smith paws with the jab as Beterbiev pushes him into the ropes. Beterbiev scores with the jab. Smith wraps a left hook around the gloves. Smith walks into a check hook and Beterbiev lands to the body and head. Surprisingly fast start from Beterbiev.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Beterbiev
10:59 p.m. ET: The main event is up next. Can Artur Beterbiev retain his unified light heavyweight titles and keep his perfect knockout streak intact or will Callum Smith pull off the upset? We're going to round-by-round coverage from here on out.
Christian Mbilli outslugs Rohan Murdock for 6th round stoppage
10:53 p.m. ET: The corner has finally seen enough. After another brutal series of power shots to close the sixth round, Murdock's team refused to send their fighter out for another round. Fantastic win for Mbilli, who is likely going to move up the ladder quickly for a title fight against the undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.
10:48 p.m. ET: This fight is a lot of fun to watch as Murdock refuses to back down from Mbilli's vicious onslaught of body punching and combinations up top. It's one-sided but certainly sets the tone for any fight that wants to be in the "Fight of the Year" conversation. It can't possibly go much longer though because Murdock is eating too many clean power punches. The fight was almost stopped at the end of the fifth round when Mbilli blasted the Aussie with a wicked assortment of power shots.
10:36 p.m. ET: Mbilli and Murdock apparently saw what Moloney and Sanchez did and wanted to keep the momentum going as it's been a war through two rounds. The 2016 Olympian is getting the better of Murdock on the inside but it has been very entertaining as Murdock has proven to be game and trade with Mbilli. Murdock is going to have to find a way to slow Mbilli down though.
10:26 p.m. ET: After a stellar brawl that saw Jason Moloney retain his WBO bantamweight championship with a majority decision victory over Saul Sanchez, we're heading to the co-main event that is a super middleweight showdown between the undefeated Christian Mbilli and Rohan Murdock.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith fight card
- Artur Beterbiev def. Callum Smith via 7th round TKO (2:00) to retain the IBF, WBC, WBO light heavyweight titles
- Jason Moloney def. Saul Sanchez via majority decision (116-112, 116-112 & 114-114) to retain for the WBO bantamweight title
- Christian Mbilli def. Rohan Murdock via 6th round TKO (3:00)