World Champion according to the World Boxing Council (WBC) , World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) in the light heavyweight category, Artur Beterbiev defeated Briton Callum Smith ahead of schedule and, maintaining a perfect record, approached the title of absolute world champion. The Sport correspondent prepared a report on the 20th victory in the professional career of the undefeated Russian.
Despite Beterbiev's undeniable dominance throughout his entire career, the elite athlete's boxing era is coming to an end. Already on the 21st, the owner of three belts will turn 39 years old – there is less and less time left to achieve the main goal… That is why for a Chechen of Dagestan origin competing under the Canadian flag, the fight is in Quebec (the same one about which, after the 2008 World Championships, with such warmth our hockey fans remember) became decisive. A defeat to the strong Smith, who lost only once (and then to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez himself, and then by decision), is the loss of zero in the “defeat” column. Catastrophe.
Victory is the last step towards the fight for the title of absolute world champion, the highest achievement in world boxing.
But neither the size advantage nor the champion’s age played into Smith’s hands. What the star Mexican Alvarez failed to do in 12 rounds, Beterbiev needed seven – the favorite gave a master class to the native of Liverpool and forced the seconds to stop the fight.
No, Smith didn't blow the meeting. He withstood Arthur's initial onslaught and had an excellent second and third three-minute period. However, already in the fourth round it became clear that Callum would not last long: Beterbiev, who completely controlled the course of the fight, “locked” his opponent against the ropes and began to grind the challenger. The Briton survived! And he even returned to the game, but not for long. In the seventh round, Smith ran into a short left hook and again found himself under a hail of blows – this time the champion did not let go of the victim and, having scored a knockdown twice, brought the matter to the intervention of Smith's corner and the referee stopping.
So Beterbiev's record reached an impressive 20 -0. He remains the only champion with all his victories coming by knockout.
The meeting with compatriot Dmitry Bivol is closer than ever. The latter has already agreed to the conditions of the organizers from Saudi Arabia to hold a fight with Beterbiev. Bivol will put everything on the line: world champion titles according to the World Boxing Association (WBA Super) and the International Boxing Organization (IBO). And a compatriot will “equalize” with three belts – the winner will leave the ring in the status of an absolute world champion and one of the greatest boxers in history.
Now everything is in the hands of Russian managers… And functionaries from the Middle East who will not spare money for another hot poster. Of course, it will be difficult to outshine the long-awaited battle between heavyweights Alexander Usik and Tyson Fury (to be held on February 17 in Riyadh) in terms of resonance. However, in terms of influence on the sports chronicle, the meeting of our boxers is no less important than the Ukrainian-British confrontation.
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