Beterbiev throttles Smith Jr to unify three light heavyweight title belts

World light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev knocked out American rival Joe Smith Jr inside two rounds on Saturday to add the WBO title to his WBC and IBF belts.

The unbeaten 37-year-old Canada-based Russian scored three knockdowns and had Smith in deep trouble with just under a minute remaining in round two before the fight was stopped.

Beterbiev improves to 18-0 – all by knockout – and can now set his sights on a possible unification fight against Russia’s WBA champion Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight crown.

However, ESPN reports the far likelier prospect is an October fight with Anthony Yarde, the 30-year-old Londoner who nearly defeated Sergey Kovalev in his lone previous title shot back in 2019.

“Joe is a little bit open, and it was more easy for me to get him,” Beterbiev said afterwards, before turning his attention to the prospect of a fight with Bivol.

“I’ve had two unification fights and unification fights are more interesting,” Beterbiev said.

“I prefer to unify. I want to be undisputed.”

TWO ROUNDS.ALL IT TOOK #BeterbievSmith