Beterbiev demolishes Smith, pounds way into likely Bivol showdown
Violently retains unified light heavyweight title to set up probable unification fight for the undisputed crown
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Artur Beterbiev has still never heard the final bell for a professional fight.
The three-belt unified light heavyweight champion, who many view as boxing’s most destructive puncher, battered, twice dropped and stopped WBC mandatory challenger Callum Smith in the seventh round to retain his belts in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Saturday night before 10,031 at the Videotron Centre in snowy Quebec City, Canada.
Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) remained boxing’s only active world titleholder with a perfect knockout percentage as he made his eighth title defense since winning his first belt in 2017 and punched his way into a probable four-belt unification fight for the undisputed 175-pound crown against WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol later this year.
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