(Quebec) Artur Beterbiev spent the evening hammering Englishman Callum Smith at the Videotron Center in Quebec. So much so that after his second fall to the canvas in the seventh, the challenger’s corner asked Michael Griffins to stop the hostilities.
Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) thus retains his World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight belts.
Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) suffered a second defeat, a first by KO.
In the fateful round, Beterbiev first sent Smith to the canvas for the first time after surprising him with a solid right on the counterattack. The champion then smelled the flaw and rushed at his opponent, who found himself sitting up after a hail of blows.
After the count of eight, Beterbiev did not give the Liverpuldian a single second of respite. The powerful combination he landed sent him back to the ground. Manager Buddy McGirt then climbed into the ring and Griffins officially ended the fight at 2:00 of the seventh.