Artur Beterbiev v Joe Smith

[TIC]

I think beterbiev is going to have success early on and be well on course to winning and then get a bit careless and union Joe will take his head off and win by tko after the ref steps in before the third knockdown.

i think joe gets manhandled

I think that'll happen early on, union Joe will probably hit the deck at least once but that broad shouldered labourer can really whack and I'm think beterbiev gets over confident and takes a fight whack and just doesn't recover.

joe has a punchers chance but i don't see him even troubling artur at all

I don't know, I'm not that big on beterbiev, the guy is powerful and fairly good for sure I just don't think he's that hard to hit and he can get a bit careless when he gets himself into a winning position and Joe really can whack maybe the hardest in the division..I think he'll get his opening and make it count...anyway we just have to wait and see...

Beterbiev is also getting pretty old

artur can be hit & can get careless. joe can punch but is very limited. i just see it as top tier v club fighter. let's wait & see

[holmcall]

IMO, Fight will not occur due to war in Ukraine. Book it!

[Master]

UNDISPUTED KING ‘I was treated like the challenger’ – Dmitry Bivol thrived on Canelo pressure and wants winner of Smith vs Beterbiev

DMITRY BIVOL is out to prove his stunning victory over Saul Alvarez was no fluke.

The Russian star, 31, retained his WBA light-heavyweight title after outpointing Canelo in an absorbing scrap earlier this month.

Bivol went into the fight as the rank outsider, despite Alvarez stepping up in weight and the Russian proudly unbeaten.

And he put on a show in front of a stunned crowd in Las Vegas as he out-jabbed and out-moved the Mexican superstar.

With a rematch on the table - albeit after Canelo's trilogy showdown with Gennady Golovkin - Bivol is keen to show he is king at 175lbs.

He told SunSport: "I took this fight to be able to show my skills to a bigger audience and fanbase.

"I know that in order to get the respect, you have to win the fight you are not supposed to win.

"I was very motivated by the fact that in this fight I was treated like the challenger and the odds were against me.

"I believed in myself from the beginning and worked very hard to get to this fight and this victory.

"Canelo is a strong and aggressive boxer with a lot of experience."

The rematch is yet to be set in stone, but Bivol is looking to the future and wants to unify the light-heavyweight division.

And he's prepared to fight the winner of Joe Smith and Artur Beterbiev, who go to war on June 18.

Bivol continued: "[Canelo] probably didn’t have to, but he gave me the opportunity and the chance to fight him [again].

"I would of course pay the same respect to him and give him the rematch if his team will take the rematch.

"The terms of the deal have to be fair as I had to agree to his terms in order to get the fight in the first time around. It will be another fight.

"My goal has always been to become undisputed champion in my division.

"If this is something that will work out and can happen, I would like to fight the winner of Joe Smith vs Artur Beterbiev.

"[It would be] another test for myself and to prove to myself that I am the best in my division and an undisputed champion of the world."

Canelo is due to face GGG in their trilogy showdown on on September 17.

But for Bivol, he's taking some well-earned time away from the ring to recharge - and has ruled out a crossover to the MMA.

The WBC champ continued: "I have just discussed that I would like to get some rest and spend some time with my family, maybe take a vacation.

"Soon we will meet and start talking more business when the time comes.

"I don’t think I have the experience or the skills to fight in MMA as I am a boxer.

I respect Dana White and what the UFC has been able to do for the sport of MMA – it’s a very big achievement."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18695...lo-undisputed/

[Master]

Three light-heavyweight world titles will be up for grabs this Saturday, as Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr meet in a main-event contest in New York City.

Unbeaten Artur Beterbiev has 17 knockouts from 17 wins, and the Russian will defend his WBC and IBF belts here.

Smith Jr, meanwhile, enters the Madison Square Garden Theater as WBO champion and with a professional record of 28-3 (22 KOs).

The American, 32, must do what no other fighter has done and hand Beterbiev the first loss of the Russian’s pro career this weekend if he is to retain his gold and collect the 37-year-old’s titles.

Last time out, Beterbiev stopped Marcus Browne in December for a ninth-round victory, while Smith Jr also won in Round 9 of his most recent fight, beating Steve Geffrard in January.

The fight will take place on Saturday 18 June at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.

The main card will begin at 2am BST (6pm PT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET) on Sunday 19 June, with ring walks for the main event set for approximately 4am BST (8pm PT, 10pm CT, 11pm ET).

In the UK, Sky Sports will air the fight live. It will also be available to stream live on the broadcaster’s Sky Go app.

In the US, ESPN+ will stream the bout live.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...48225f40f31665

[TitoFan]

Looking forward to this one.

[TIC]

Looking forward to this one.

both guys seem very good for the sport

[Spicoli]

Getting pumped for this one. Wonder if Beterbiev will make it a point to start faster. Smith looked ragged and slow last out and much of what Vlasov showed in imo a coin toss decision, Beterbiev has ten times over. But I can see him getting in trouble and pushed around a bit for the first few rounds. Levels should separate gradually but Smith very dangerous start to finish. Would love Bivol v winner in full unification but looks like Zurdo may be up for Bivol next.

By the looks of it card is only set for one and a half hours so hopefully the espn crew doesn't talk fans to death for an hour again before a fight happens.

[TIC]

artur can be hit & joe's power will be a risk all fight, i just don't see this as being very competitive