Beterbiev Makes His Intention To Be Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight Champion Clear

 

The World Light-Heavyweight championship unification bout between undefeated WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev and WBO world champion Joe Smith, which took place on June 18th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY was one that lacked the type of buzz normally afforded to such unification bouts. This could be because much of the attention in recent times has centered on undefeated WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol‘s recent dominant win in successfully retaining his title over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May. Although it is also a reflection of the politics that be in the sport that some high level fights receive more attention than others, the bout between Beterbiev and Smith was one that had action written all over it. 

 

In previewing this fight in discussing the similarities between the two fighters in terms of style, this observer said perhaps too simply that this fight could come down to whoever was able to land the first significant punch. Despite both fighters displaying a healthy respect for each other, the question of who would take the initiative to force the fight between the two pressure fighters was answered almost immediately as Smith initiated the combat. While this seemed like an interesting approach, it proved not to be a tactical one as Beterbiev patiently waited for his opening and then connected with a counter right hand that seemed to land on Smith’s temple sending the WBO champion down for the first time in his career.  

 

Smith was able to get up and survive the round, but it seemed as though whatever strategy he may have been trying to implement prior to the knockdown went out the window. It was in the second round where Beterbiev continued to find a home for his right hand and would ultimately score three more knockdowns of Smith before the fight was stopped. Beterbiev had made an emphatic statement in scoring a one-sided second round knockout over a normally durable Joe Smith to add the WBO Light-Heavyweight crown to his unified Light-Heavyweight world championship. 

 

Sometimes there is simply not much one could say or analysis that one could offer beyond the simple description of a one-sided fight that ended in dominant fashion. Although this observer was not expecting the fight to end as quickly as it did, despite the styles of the two fighters and knowing that anything can happen when two fighters get into a ring to do battle, it was as convincing a performance by Artur Beterbiev as I have seen thus far in his career. 

 

While in a perfect scenario, this would naturally lead to a bout with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, it would appear that Beterbiev’s next bout as now the WBC/IBF/WBO world champion will come against former world title challenger and current WBO number one contender Anothony Yarde, which could take place in the fall. Despite Beterbiev’s next bout appearing to be set in stone per mandatory defense obligations, which usually follow a unification bout such as this, that has not stopped speculation of a potential undisputed world championship fight between Beterbiev and Bivol, to the point that when asked outright what he wanted to do after his knockout of Joe Smith, Beterbiev stated outright that he wants to be undisputed champion when asked by ESPN as to what he wanted to do next. This then promoted a discussion amongst ESPN’s broadcast team as to the need of their network and digital subscription-based sports streaming network DAZN, which has broadcast several of Bivol’s recent fights including the recent victory over Saul Alvarez, to find common ground to make the fight happen.  

 

Although longtime readers know that I am a long and vocal critic of the idea of networks whether they be traditional television or streaming becoming the ultimate decider as to when and how fights take place, Beterbiev’s promoter Hall of Famer Bob Arum, said in a recent interview with Boxing news outlet Boxing Scene, that he wants to see Beterbiev continue to remain on ESPN, referring to DAZN as “Dead Zone” in citing what he believes as DAZN’s low viewership. It is important for me to state before I go any further that I have been a vocal supporter of both DAZN and ESPN as both have focused heavily in recent years on moving Boxing more towards a reasonably priced subscription-based streaming model as compared to pay-per-view. While both have dipped their toes into the pay-per-view model by force in recent times, it cannot be ignored the progress both networks have made. 

 

Now that I have made my position clear, it is important to remember that both networks have exclusive deals with promoters with Arum having an exclusive deal with ESPN here in the United States to provide Boxing content to the network across both its traditional network and it’s streaming network ESPN+. While no one can take away from Arum’s accomplishments in the sport and while he is entitled to his point of view as we all are, perhaps he should be spending more time worrying about his own business as opposed to throwing shots at a network that he does not have an agreement with and one that has shown a willingness to work with ESPN in the past. 

 

Even though Arum’s comments can be explained as a promoter doing what a promoter does, it is such rhetoric that serves more as a determent to the sport more than an asset and Arum and ESPN would be better served by looking to provide the best cards possible for their audience as well as trying as best as possible to avoid using the pay-per-view model, which has seen underwhelming returns whenever they have gone in that direction. 

 

Whether or not Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are officially on a collision course for the Undisputed Light-Heavyweight championship of the world remains to be seen. The 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division does however, have two unbeaten dominant world champions sitting atop the division and if that continues to be the case, interest in a fight between the two will grow organically and it will not matter much as to the various interests of promoters or networks. When interests in a fight builds naturally, the public will support it. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

 

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Beterbiev-Smith: Boxing’s Latest Unification Clash

Longtime readers of this observer’s work and particularly those who have followed The Boxing Truth® are likely familiar with a column that I have penned over the last several years that typically serves as a beginning of the schedule at the beginning of the year. “A Boxing Wishlist.” While as time has gone on there are more than one item that unfortunately remains on the list year after year, one of the more consistent items is my wish to see all world championships unified to determine one undisputed world champion per division amongst the sport’s seventeen weight classes.

As I have pointed out frequently whenever the subject of a unification bout arises, my wish may seem overly optimistic and impossible for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to the various sanctioning organizations, with their own mandates, the slew of interim/regular championship designations throughout the sport, rival promoters that tend to shy away from working together even though it would benefit the fighters that they represent, and finally rival networks that have their own agendas, which unfortunately more often than not contradicts with what is good for the sport of Boxing and more specifically the public/consumer’s desire to see world champions face each other to determine who is the top fighter in a given weight class.

Although all of the above should be viewed as negative and among many reasons why Boxing continues to be prevented from reaching it’s true potential, recent times have seen progress in unification bouts taking place on a somewhat regular basis and one thing that I personally feel encouraged by, an undisputed champion defending his title against a mandatory challenger who held interim championship status in an organization, who’s world championship the champion held, and did so in a reasonable timeframe. While the decision of former Undisputed Lightweight world champion George Kambosos to defend his title against a deserving WBC number one contender in Devin Haney proved to be a costly one as Haney scored a dominant twelve round unanimous decision to win the championship, one cannot argue that Kambosos’ decision to fight the top contender that was available not only showed a true fighter’s mentality, but more specifically benefited the sport in showing that an undisputed champion was willing to take on arguably the most dangerous opponent possible for his first title defense.

Now a few weeks removed from that fight, which took place in Melbourne, Australia, the Boxing world now prepares to focus on another division that is taking another step toward full unification. This time, the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division as undefeated WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev will face WBO world champion Joe Smith on Saturday, June 18th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ refocuses the spotlight on the division that is still buzzing over undefeated WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol’s dominant victory over Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May. While Bivol’s victory threw a monkey wrench into Alvarez’ plans to attempt to fully unify a second weight class, there was little doubt as to who won that fight though not many among the casual fan who knew of Dmitry Bivol prior to that fight and thus were not familiar with his Boxing style and skillset that bewildered Alvarez over the course of twelve rounds.

An argument that could be made that is a flaw to a degree is that when a fighter that enjoys the star level that Alvarez does enters into a division to seek more acclaim, it does take away from those fighters who might hold world titles in the division that are not fortunate to be involved in a fight with Alvarez. Though the flaw in choosing an opponent that was not stylistically favorable was exposed by Bivol defeating Alvarez in convincing fashion, the two other world champions in the division Beterbiev and Smith were unfortunately pushed to the background.

If there is a silver lining, it could be that by facing each other it could make the winner’s chances of meeting Bivol down the line for what would be the undisputed championship higher now that Bivol took care of his business against Alvarez and barring a potential rematch between them down the line, it would theoretically leave Bivol free to meet the winner of this fight. While that is a subject to discuss more extensively at a later time, it does underscore the high stakes that are involved here in this fight beyond three versions of the World Light-Heavyweight championship being on the line. 

As for the fight itself, this will be an encounter between two fighters that like to come forward. Both Beterbiev and Smith are aggressive fighters that have shown a willingness to get in and mix it up with their opponents. Although each man has also shown the ability to box and earn decision victories, given the styles of both fighters, it would not shock me if this fight were to come down to who is able to land their power punches first as both have also shown the ability to score quick and sudden knockouts. When it comes to fights like this that feature fighters with similar styles going against each other, it always interest me to see who will take the initiative from the outset. 

With two fighters that like to come forward and apply pressure on their opponents, something as simple on the surface as who initiates the combat can actually prove to be crucial. This is because of the similarities between the two fighters in that the fighter that fails to initiate things and more specifically attempt to control the tempo of the combat, will be forced into a position they might not be comfortable with in being on the receiving end of a pressure attack and it might be how that fighter adjusts that will ultimately determine how this fight will be fought and could even determine the outcome.

Both fighters have shown the aforementioned attributes as well as an ability to adapt when hurt, so this has the potential to be an all-action fight for however long it lasts. Now with the spotlight firmly focused on them, with both world champions not pushed to the background by the circumstances and politics that be in the sport, it is simply a question of who will be able to seize the opportunity.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth. “

Beterbiev  vs. Smith takes place on Saturday, June 18th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:25PM ET/3:25PM PT. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, instructions on how to access ESPN+ through the ESPN app, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

*Check your local listings Internationally.

*Card Subject To Change

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison