How was Beterbiev’s tremendous knockout over Callum Smith and when can he fight Bivol

What of Artur Beterbiev It is shocking. This Saturday, the naturalized Russian Canadian reached the incredible record of 20 knockouts in 20 fights after knocking out the British Callum Smith in the seventh round of the confrontation that both had at the Center Videotron in Quebec, in Canada, where the boxer born in Khasavyurt, in the Republic of Dagestan (one of the 22 that make up the Russian Federation) retained the titles of the middle heavyweight division of the World Boxing Council, the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization.

This is an exclusive record among active boxers. But Beterbiev did not have it easy. After two even first rounds, the light heavyweight champion of the Council, the Organization and the International Federation left the feeling that the fight would be resolved before the limit like his previous 19.

Beterbiev, 38, carried out a demolition task starting in the third chapter based on the power of his fists, which progressively struck an increasingly affected Smith.

The Englishman, who had two victories in the category after losing to a Mexican Saul Canelo Alvarez at his natural weight -super middleweight- in December 2020, he was only able to impose his distance fighting strategy in the second round.

That segment was the only one that he won by a minimal difference, supported by his best arm reach, but in the next one he felt the hands of the champion and his second defeat on a rented field began to take shape.

He did not arrive in good condition at the seventh and Beterbiev took advantage of it decisively by applying a right hand to the skull which made him listen to the count with one knee on the canvas of the ring.

Smith (29-2-0, 21 KOs.) stood up, the Canadian referee Michael Griffin enabled him to continue, but he fell again before the furious attack of the knockout, which led the British team to ask for the end of the fight. fight.

Beterbiev had last fought almost a year ago, on January 28, 2023, when he beat the Englishman Anthony Yarde by TKO8 at the Wembley Arena. This Saturday was his third defense of the triple crown of the 175-pound division.

After the victory, Beterbiev challenged Russian Dmitry Bivol, holder of the WBA and IBO titles in the light heavyweight division. “I want another belt,” he announced to the celebration of the public in Quebec.

The person who referred to the fight between Beterbiev and Bivol was none other than the Canadian’s promoter, the legendary Bob Arum. “No, it’s not done yet, but we definitely want to do it.”, advertisement. And he announced that Saudi Arabia would be the venue for the stellar confrontation between the two Russians since Sheikh Turki Al-Sheikhone of the oil-producing country’s main sporting event organizers, is very interested in hosting the contest.

Arum added: “I will speak to my friend, His Excellency, Turki Al-Sheikh. “I know you want to do it, but we are close to Ramadan”said the promoter.

Beterbiev, who will turn 39 on January 21, is a devout Muslim and will observe the month of fasting required by Ramadan, which this year will be between March 10 and April 8. “So three months after the end of Ramadan we will be ready to fight Bivol, probably in Riyadh”Arum added. So the fight between Beterbiev and Bivol could be agreed for July.