Undefeated Artur Beterbiev defended three world titles in light-heavyweight boxing by stopping Briton Callum Smith in the seventh round on Saturday and winning by knockout for the twentieth time in as many fights.
Beterbiev, a 38-year-old Russian-born Canadian, stopped the Englishman two minutes into the seventh round in Quebec City, Canada, improving to 20-0 and remaining the only world champion to win every fight by early stoppage.
A hard right hand from Beterbiev to the side of Smith’s head was the stunner that set off a series of punishing lefts and a final right-left combination sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas for the first time in his career at any level. seconds into the seventh lap.
Smith stood up against the ropes, but Beterbiev quickly landed a five-punch combination to drop the challenger back to the canvas. Smith’s corner stopped the fight moments later.
Beterbiev retained the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight crowns, paving the way for a likely uncontested unification fight with undefeated World Boxing Association champion Dmitry Bivol of Russia.
Smith, a 33-year-old former WBA super middleweight champion, fell to 29-2. His only previous defeat came in 2020 by unanimous decision against Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed world super middleweight champion.
Beterbiev was scheduled to face Smith last August, but the fight was postponed after Beterbiev had to undergo jaw surgery due to a bone infection.
Beterbiev, who won his first world title in 2017, defended the three titles for the second time after stopping Britain’s Anthony Yarde in the eighth round in his most recent fight in London last January.
Smith last fought in August 2022 when he stopped Frenchman Mathieu Bauderlique in the fourth round to earn his shot against Beterbiev.
The home favorite is expected to challenge for the undisputed 79.9kg division crown against the 33-year-old Bivol, who is 22-0 with 11 knockouts.
Beterbiev attacked with powerful punches from the start, but Smith worked his jab and pressed his case with combinations as the fight settled into a rhythm, with the patient champion counting the challenger early.
Beterbiev swelled Smith’s right eye in the third round, landing a powerful right uppercut to the chin and hard body shots.
A flurry of punishing punches from the champion to Smith’s head in the fourth round stunned the Englishman, whose nose began to bleed in the fifth round, setting up the finish.
On the undercard, WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney of Australia retained his title with a 12-round victory over American Saul Sanchez.
The 32-year-old from Melbourne improved to 27-2, while Sanchez fell to 20-3 as two judges rated the Australian the winner at 116-112 and the third saw the fight drawn at 114-114.
Moloney defended his crown for the first time after capturing the vacant 118-pound title with a majority decision over Philippines’ Vincent Astrolabio last May.