Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum says WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev could face Joe Smith Jr. if Smith wins the WBO light heavy belt this weekend.
“If Joe Smith Jr. is victorious Saturday night against Vlasov on ESPN, and if Artur Beterbiev successfully defends his unified crown against Adam Deines on March 20 – also on ESPN – We could see a ferocious, bombs away, 3-belt battle later in 2021,” stated Arum via Twitter.
I really like Smith, his story, demeanor and style in the ring. I’ll be pulling for him Saturday and against Beterbiev if they meet but against Beterbiev he’ll be totally outclassed. Different level of skill and Artur is a beast. I hear some people saying he has not been tested or is hyped up but I disagree.. ask “the nail” what he thinks.
Beterbiev is too much for Smith. If Smith wins the WBO belt, let him enjoy it, he deserves some winnable fights before throwing him under the bus (Autotram Extra-Grand in this case).
If you like stand-up, crude, rigid, strong fighters with no footwork, Beterbiev is the man. Smith is a notch below him. Both are ordinary to me. Bivol and Canelo outbox and expose Beterbiev, much like Ward did to Kovalev IMO.
Canelo beating a Chechen. (Beterbiev) not happening.
Too much for a Mexican.
Stand up, crude, rigid, strong fighter with no footwork. Kind of sounds like Rocky Marciano. Yeah I like him.
I wouldn’t bet the house on that. Beterbiev is one of the most technically sound boxers out there with rocks in his gloves. If he was what you say he is, Canelo would be actively trying to fight him. He’s considered, along with Bivol the class of the division. I do believe either he or Bivol would give Canelo all he can handle but neither is knocking down walls to fight Beterbiev. He’s 35 and they’re gonna wait till he’s over the hill.
Beterbiev is the man. Can’t see Bivol beating him. Doesn’t have the pop. Where is Canelo in this mix? Bivol and Beterbiev fighting Canelo are the only worthy guys left. But like Mayweather and Canelo wait until they’re weather worn.
I guess a person has to serve as the sacrificial lamb (Smith) to a hungry wolf (Beterbiev).
At the end of the day Beterbievs, brawling, ackward,hard accurate punching capabilities would overshadow anything in Canelos arsenal. I don’t GAF how good how good canelos boxing IQ is. One hard shot, Canelo gets rocked and it’s over. Let’s hope he gets more public exposure. Because since he doesn’t the public isn’t clamoring for this fight. Plus he’s getting older. I know chechens after spending time in Russia. One bad glance and its game on. Mexican Canelo just couldn’t take the heat. Fact man. He’s never in the discussions.
Geez Joe Blow, you sure seem to point out the “Mexican” part of Canelo…… a bit bias are you?
Sore that he can dictate who, what, when, where (and $$$) he’ll fight?
I’m sure Bivol, Beterbiev, and any other “Chechen” as YOU put it, have their talent and abilities, but you must be either very blind or very biased to NOT acknowledge Canelo’s ability.
The most obvious and “common sense” fight is Bivol vs Beterbiev! After all, they are both current champions in the same weight and in their fighting prime…..
Mexican fighters (champions included) have historically fought their countrymen to determine who is the best… Barrera, Morales, Chavez, Marquez….
Same goes for African American fighters…. Leonard, Hearns, Hagler…..
I think Smith will united the IBF title before facing Beterbievs.
Wow. Beterbiev really going after the top names here. Being protected from Bivol. It’s obvious at this point.
Smith still gets one of the top 5 KOs in my book when smoked arrogant Hopkins! Still love that KO! Your mileage may vary in opinion. However, Hopkins signed the contract going into that fight thinking he could have beat Smith fair and square.
BHop probably felt he could not possibly lose to a White man……….again.
Now THAT would be an amazing fight because you know for a fact that with the styles of these two warriors, one will be stopped before the 12th and final round…
That should should happen for the 4th of July weekend…
Beterbiev needs to fight Bivol nobody else