A man who has been KOd before is never far away from another KO loss. Beterbiev bangs him out and Joe's Cinderella story ends.
Smith jr gets caught too often. He might have some success early like Johnson did and drop him but down the long stretch he gets crumpled
Beterbiev hasn't fought in 2 years and is close to 36 or 37 years old. He won't be ready for a guy like Smith Jr who just keeps coming. I know the concern, that Smith takes too many punches, but I would be just as concerned with Beterbievs inactivity. Smith will KO the Russian Yeti in 9
When Bob Arum starts talking light heavyweight unification, my eyes glaze over. Still waiting for his promised Virgil Hill, Dennis Andries, Prince Charles Williams and Michael Moorer unification series which he never stopped talking about until none of them were light heavyweights anymore.
Joe Smith can hurt anybody if he lands a clean shot. But he probably won't again the Beterman. Beterbiev is the better technician and I expect him to smother Smith. Smith has a punchers chance but I have to pick Beterbiev to take this.
Skill level is too great. Beterbiev's age and inactivity might cost him against a skilled boxer and mover, but Smith is right in his wheelhouse.
Remains to be seen what Beterbiev has left. I suspect Govodznykov took more out if him then we all realized at the time
I'm have to agree with this,,while Joe has been fighting what has Beterbiev been doing? It seems that Beterbiev has grown in stature while doing nothing for 2 years now. Coming back after this inactivity and against one of the 3 hardest pound for pound punchers in boxing is a recipe for disaster. This fight will see a clash early in round 1 ,Joe comes forward and Beterbiev meets him. Yes Joe gets hit,,but so does Beterbiev ,Joe by TKO .
Joe definitely has the offense but he would need to tighten up his defense to have a shot. I like AB in this one but Joe could win early rounds. AB seems to be at a higher overall level and is so strong. This would be a good fight and I’d definitely watch. Beterbiev needs to fight more often. I know injuries and Covid have slowed things down but he’s lost momentum. He needs some high profile fights and this would be a good one. AB by KO, around the sixth round is my guess. Might go longer, same result.
Who is this in reference to? Because neither of these two have been knocked out at as a pro. Smith has had his jaw broken twice, and his lone TKO loss was due to that. But it happened 10 years ago.
Joe hits like a truck and Beterbiev has been dropped hard before, so you certainly cannot rule him out of this one, especially taking Beterbiev's age and inactivity, and recent injury into account. I'll be on the edge of my seat for this one, great fight.
I think Berterbiev is a bridge too far for Smith. It would be a war for a while, and Smith always has a chance with his heavy hands, but I think Berterbiev would land too much, and his own very heavyhanded mitts would prove too much for Smith.