Smith will always have a punchers chance against anyone. With that said id pick Beterbiev to beat him.
For reference - the punch Eddie Caminero hot Joe Smith with and obliterated his jaw. Joe did not want to quit and wanted to go out on his shield. Judges and doctors wouldn't allow that so they have the TKO win to Caminero. Caminero had more problems and impediments than one could list. Most namely his dedication, effort, training(when he did), skills, size, physical dimensions and length, and it wasn't that he actually had a physically bad chin - to him either he or his opponent was leaving on a body bag or stretcher, as in YOU END FIGHTS MA FAKA. I'm sure as you could imagine Eddie did not train the hardest or show up in the best shape, he just wanted to kill or be killed - hich is what always happened. Eddie Caminero was never 1/50 boxer AB is or sk8lled or talented on those same levels. But there IS one area Eddie can compete with Artur p4p and maybe even surpass him. Nah he doesnt have thr skills or pedigree or development or whatever - but DO NOT GET IT TWISTED - as hard ad beterboss hits, he's still likely not close to Smith and Caminero's Department in punching power, and if Eddie can drop a seed on Joe's chin and mangle it like he did but still not put him down or out or dissuade him -- then I guarantee neither is Artur amd once that happens, for the first time ever, Smith casually and savagely walks Artur down and ends him with a shot that would make people wonder who the **** Franz Ferdinand was.
Joe's chin is made out of adamantium, he can be hurt, have his jaw broken, but the man will not go down. Walking opponents down that don't want to be KO'd isn't necessarily Smith's forte, however... landing devastating counters on hyper aggressive opponents who have him hurt, is. Need remind anyone of the Hail Mary Joe landed when backed along the ropes, when he was being "hurt" or was it that he walked Fonfara onto that shot? Regardless, if Beterbiev gets his shot to take him out, he better proceed carefully, because Joe is always one shot away from changing the complexion of a fight, and he's an excellent finisher. This content is protected Now sure, you can say, but he didn't KO Hart and Beterbiev has a better chin than Hart, but here's the catch, Hart is slipperier than a ****d up octopus, he sucks as a boxer, but his survival instincts are immaculate. Beterbiev on the other hand, he's not all that slippery. Not saying Joe will beat him, but Joe can beat him.
I'd pick Beterbiev to win, but wouldn't rule Smith out at all. His ruggedness, heart and power give him a chance.
Smith's best shot is from the outside but as we have seen so many times, Beterbiev is incredible at closing the distance, setting traps and on the inside he can maul you and really hurt your body and therefore bring your hands down and open up your defence. I haven't really seen a body attack from from Smith Jr at all. This either goes the Gvozdyk route or like the Kalajdzic way and he gets chopped down before he has a chance to get going.
He has a punchers chance. In all likelihood Beterbiev would give him a potentially career ending beatdown. I like Smith and would rather not see that.
Smith is someone that I've grown to appreciate despite his limited but effective abilities. His performance against Alvarez was his best showing that I've seen of him. That said, Beterbiev would be the worse kind of fighter for him. I think Beterbiev would be too strong, powerful, and clever for someone like Smith. Smith's only chance would be if Beterbiev somehow gets injured again.
I like watching both fighters. beterbiev is an animal though and I don’t think anyone beats him right now. I’d picked the nail to beat smith but who knows what the nail has left or how Artur will be after this injury recovery. im going beterbiev via ko in the 7th
Beterbiev. Joe Smith has proven himself to be a hell of a lot better than most gave him credit for, but not to the point I'd take him over the top dog of the division.
Smith loads up way too much on his power punches. Beterbiev's short power will make Smith hesitate before throwing his bombs. I just don't see how Smith wins this one TBH.
