The Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr prediction thread !

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ARTUR BETERBIEV BETTER BE AWARE JOE SMITH JR. FIGHTS WITH POWERFUL MOTIVATION

Joe Smith Jr. doesn’t want to ever reach for that yellow hardhat and fluorescent orange construction site vest again. That’s how the WBO light heavyweight titlist made his living for years. It was brutal. Days seemed infinite. He worked in shivering cold, and suffocating heat. His fists got him out.

This Saturday in the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, Smith’s looking for his fists to carry him higher, when “The Beast” defends the WBO belt against WBC/IBF light heavyweight titlist Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 knockouts) on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Both Beterbiev, The Ring’s No. 2 light heavyweight contender and Smith, rated No. 3 by Ring, realize this is the step towards being the undisputed light heavyweight world champion, with a unification fight possibly ahead later this year against WBA and Ring’s No. 1-rated Dmitry Bivol.

“This is a huge opportunity to fight for two more world titles and just to be a unified champion is an amazing opportunity,” said Smith, who regrouped and reinvented himself after his unanimous-decision loss to Bivol in March 2019 by winning four straight, including impressive victories over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez in 2020. “I knew those were my last opportunities. If I lost a fight, and I didn’t give it 110-percent in the gym and stay focused, I wasn’t going to make it anywhere. Each fight (after the Bivol loss) I took as my last fight. That’s how I got here.”

But Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) knew he was the B-side of the Hart fight. It was fight for relevance. Whoever lost would be thrown on to the gate keeper scrap heap. Both needed a resurrecting victory. In a superb performance in which he dusted off his dormant boxing skills, Smith won by split-decision. Against Alvarez, who was looking to stay relevant after his decision to Sergey Kovalev in their rematch in February 2019, Smith again prevailed, that time by knockout.

He knows he’s not supposed to be the one who wins this fight, either.

“I watched the clip of that 10th round against Bivol over and over again and I thought to myself, ‘I’m that close to becoming world champion right here.’” Smith said. “I looked back at that, and the few mistakes I made, worked hard in the gym, I could fix that and become world champion. I got a chance to fight for the WBO belt and stayed dedicated every day and here we are.

“I always worked hard on my endurance, but I had to work on my boxing ability. It’s all coming together. It was actually the loss to Bivol that got me back. That motivated me to see I was that close to becoming a world champion. I knew my next fight if I didn’t improve my boxing, I wasn’t going to make it anywhere. I knew if I lost, I didn’t want to go back to a laborer’s job working every single day. It motivated me to work every single day because this is my life.

“I want to be a world champion and live the way I want to live. I wasn’t supposed to win the Jesse Hart fight. I stayed on top of him all night and I knew that’s what I needed to do, stay on top of him and make him uncomfortable. I wasn’t supposed to beat Alvarez. I beat him, too. I still have more left in the tank and I’m going to show that this Saturday.”

Smith is 32. Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian based in Montreal, Canada, is 37. He is the only current titlist who has stopped each opponent he has faced. He stopped Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 10, in a fight he was losing 86-85 and 87-84 on two judge’s scorecards in October 2019.

“But he leaves himself open at times, and he’s going to give me opportunities to land my power,” Smith said. “I believe it’s going to be my night. I am ready to fire-for-fire with this guy. I know facing him is a big opportunity and beating him is going to open bigger opportunities. I’ve put in the work like I always do. You have to bring the fire against someone like (Beterbiev). I believe I’m the biggest puncher in the division. He’s going to have to deal with my power.”

This will mark the first time Smith, who’s from Long Island, will be fighting at Madison Square Garden for the first time since he was a 17-year-old amateur when he won the 2008 Golden Gloves. He always envisioned himself fighting for a title in front of family and friends.

“My emotions will be under control,” Smith vowed. “You always have to watch your emotions, and I plan on being relaxed and focused. I’ll envision myself being in an empty gym with a guy trying to take my head off.”

https://www.ringtv.com/640532-artur...oe-smith-jr-fights-with-powerful-motivation2/

 

I AM NOT BEAST. I’M NICE GUY – ARTUR BETERBIEV READY FOR JOE SMITH BATTLE

Every fight for me is exciting,” said Artur Beterbiev, the WBC and IBF light-heavyweight champion. He meets WBO ruler Joe Smith at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and his all-action style has made Beterbiev one of the most-popular fighters in the world and many are hopeful of fireworks.

“Every fight in this position that I have is a challenge and I have to be prepared 100 per cent for every fight,” Beterbiev continued. “Joe Smith is good. He has good experience in the professionals and he’s had good fights against good opponents but we will see on January 19.”

A plethora of top boxing stars have been in action this year and debate has raged about who should be on mythical pound-for-pound lists. Beterbiev is in the conversation but he’s not getting obsessed with it. He is just sticking to the boxing and will leave the lists to others.

“Yes, I’m interested but I’m not dreaming about it,” explained the 17-0 (17) destroyer. “I do my work. If they put me pound-for-pound or not, I still do my work. And if one day they put me highest I’d be happy – but I’m not dreaming about it.”

Beterbiev has been in camp with trainer Marc Ramsey and long-time assistant coach John Scully, the former light-heavyweight contender who was brought in as another pair of eyes to contribute technical advice from a different viewpoint.

Business in the light-heavyweight division has intensified since Canelo Alvarez started campaigning at 175lbs, but rather than the money and profile that would come with a Canelo fight, Beterbiev would rather have the glory of a unification clash with Dmitry Bivol (who has a WBA belt), Canelo’s recent conqueror.

“In the future… I think I’d more like a fight with a current champion who has the belt, not for name or money,” Artur went on. “For me, that’s a more important setting.”

Of course, away from boxing Russian forces have attacked Ukraine and Russian sportsmen and women have been banned from some competitions. Beterbiev, originally from Khasavyurt in Russia, said he has not been following the news since he has been in camp, opting to concentrate on the fight.

“I think of sport out of politics but it’s not good, sportsmen have an effect for that,” he stated. “I think it’s not good but I can’t change something like that. To be honest, I’m preparing for a fight, I don’t watch TV, I don’t watch YouTube, I’m preparing for a fight. It’s difficult to focus on what’s going on around the world and being ready to fight.”

That’s what the 37-year-old does best. The biggest win of his career was when he battered the excellent Oleksandr Gvozdyk to a 10th round defeat at the end of 2018 in Philadelphia. Gzozdyk had to go to hospital and never fought again.

“Very good fighter,” Beterbiev remembered, while admitting that he did contemplate the risks of being involved in boxing.

“Of course, it’s not good but it’s boxing and we choose this sport, we choose this way and it can happen to me or anyone but it’s part of professional sport,” he explained. “It’s hard.”

British eyes will be on what happens this weekend. Beterbiev already turned away the challenge of Callum Johnson in a thriller in 2016 but Anthony Yarde is expected to be ringside on Saturday and hopes to meet the winner later this year.

Beterbiev doesn’t know much about Yarde. “I’m not a fan of boxing,” he continued. “I don’t follow the different boxers even before I became a world champion, I didn’t follow boxers and being honest I never watched Yarde. I haven’t watched his fights and I don’t know him well, but when we have contact or a fight with Yarde we will watch him and check everything.”

The Russian says he makes weight comfortably still but doesn’t know how much longer he will be fighting for.

“I can’t answer that,” he said. “If I feel good and I get fights, I train to be ready.”

But the way he fights has endeared him to many in the sport. He’s often referred to as a beast for his hard-hitting, relentless nature. He disagrees, but does so with a modest smile.

“No, I am not beast,” he insisted. “I’m nice guy. Maybe people like that or think that but I’m a very simple boxer.”

https://www.ringtv.com/640523-i-am-not-beast-im-nice-guy-artur-beterbiev-ready-for-joe-smith-battle/

 

Here’s how the experts see it:

THE RING MAGAZINE/RINGTV.COM

TOM GRAY: BETERBIEV TKO 8

“I like Beterbiev to win a high-contact battle that will leave fans with their mouths open. The styles can’t fail to gel, so I think we’re in for a potential Fight of the Year. Given their respective KO ratios, I foresee both guys visiting the canvas early and being shaken up throughout. I just think Beterbiev has that something extra. But with all that said, I leave the door open for Smith. He is a huge puncher and Beterbiev must be careful.”

ANSON WAINWRIGHT: BETERBIEV TKO 10

“An excellent high-impact fight on paper, and one that should live up to expectations, really exciting. Both men are noted punchers, who are both very offensive. In some ways, it’s about who blinks first. I think Smith may take the better shot but Beterbiev is the better, more rounded fighter. Neither is hard to find and so I expect there to be a lot of action in a battle of wills and ultimately attrition. I wouldn’t be shocked if Beterbiev is down early but climbs off the canvas to walk Smith down to score a late stoppage. Beterbiev to score a bloody 10th round stoppage win.”

LEE GROVES: BETERBIEV KO 11

“It really helps Smith’s cause that this fight is being staged in New York City because Madison Square Garden’s Theater will be stuffed with his raucous Long Island supporters, whose sonic support could lift their man’s performance level exponentially. Given Beterbiev’s history of slow starts and early knockdowns, Smith’s best chance is to jump on the Russian early and hope one of his bombs will end Beterbiev’s fight before it really gets started. But if Beterbiev gets past the early storm and kicks into a higher gear (usually around the third or fourth round), he has the skill, ruggedness and big punch to emerge victorious in the later rounds.”

MARTY MULCAHEY: BETERBIEV TKO 6

“I look at the Artur Beterbiev-Joe Smith Jr. fight, in advance, the same I did Devin Haney – George Kambosos Jr. encounter in retrospect… an elite boxer against a very good boxer. While I admire and respect Smith for getting the most out of his abilities and career, Beterbiev is a cut above sporting superior experience, reflexes (even at age 37), speed, skillset, and most importantly pure power! I’d be shocked if the fight goes the distance, and somewhat surprised if the fight sees double-digit rounds. I look for Beterbiev to take a couple rounds to get warmed up and gauge Smith, after that the power punches and connect rate improves with each stanza before Beterbiev stops Smith in the sixth round.”

MICHAEL MONTERO: BETERBIEV TKO

“This matchup is guaranteed to bring violence. Beterbiev is the older fighter and has had periods of inactivity in his career. Given his style, at some point he’s going to “look old overnight” in the ring. Additionally, Smith has shown improvement in recent bouts. One could make the argument that he’s faced the better opposition over the last 5-6 years. All that being said, I just can’t bet against the Russian. He might be the strongest fighter pound-for-pound in all of boxing. Beterbiev late TKO.”

NORM FRAUENHEIM: BETERBIEV TKO 11

“Beterbiev has 17 fights, 17 victories, 17 KOs. Expect the perfection to continue. Despite the perfect record, there have been some recent flaws in Beterbiev, who turned 37 in January. But there aren’t enough of them for Joe Smith to score an upset of the proficient Russian turned Canadian. Smith is tough, but Dmitry Bivol was just seconds from stopping him at the end of a one-sided decision in March 2019. In his 18th pro bout, look for Beterbiev to do what narrowly eluded Bivol.”

DIEGO MORILLA: BETERBIEV KO 8

“It’s hard to dislike Joe Smith, a working-class hero inside and outside the ring. His crowd-pleasing style makes for great fights, and his clash against Beterbiev could be a great fight while it lasts, but unfortunately it won’t last long. Beterbiev is a force of nature, and although sometimes he takes more punches than what he should he is still much too powerful for Smith to harbor any hope of reaching the final bell. A competitive bout in the early going will become a demolition once the damage starts to pile up on Smith.”

BOXING INSIDERS

DUKE MCKENZIE (FORMER THREE-DIVISION TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): BETERBIEV SD

“With the recent spate of unification fights, this is the best of the bunch. Beterbiev is a human wrecking ball. No, he’s more than that, he also possesses and intelligence not gifted to men his weight. Beterbiev is a quite brilliant all-rounder, who will surely be put through the wringer when he fights Smith Jr. in this mouth-watering unification fight. Smith goes into this on a four-fight winning run. I wouldn’t back against Smith if he was fighting anyone else and I mean no one. But I see Beterbiev as the winner via split decision.”

ANDY LEE (FORMER WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER/ TRAINER/ TV ANALYST): BETERBIEV KO

“I like Smith, he’s big, strong and has power in both hands. I think Smith will have some success but the educated pressure from Beterbiev will be too much. I pick Beterbiev by late KO.”

RAUL MARQUEZ (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/COMMENTATOR): BETERBIEV TKO 9

“This fight will be a war. Smith will have some good moments early on but I feel Beterbiev will break him down a get a late round stoppage. Beterbiev in nine rounds.”

JOLENE MIZZONE (MANAGER): BETERBIEV TKO 10

“I think Beterbiev is going to be too strong for Smith. Smith will start to feel it later in the fight that is why I am picking a later knockout. Beterbiev TKO 10. I am however routing for Smith so if he can pull the upset, that would shake up the division and make it even better.”

GILBERTO RAMIREZ (FORMER WBO SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER): BETERBIEV TKO

“It’s an underrated fight. Both are rugged and have power in both hands. My prediction is Beterbiev will stop Joe Smith Jr. in the mid-to-late rounds.”

KATHY DUVA (PROMOTER, MAIN EVENTS): BETERBIEV TKO 6

“I think that Joe smith will make the fight fun for as long as it lasts. But I suspect that Beterbiev is just too strong for him. I’m picking Beterbiev to stop Smith in six.”

LEX STEEDMAN (COMMENTATOR): BETERBIEV TKO

“This should be a good fight to watch and I expect Beterbiev to win by knockout. Smith is big and strong but he’s simply too easy to hit while Beterbiev is as close to suffocating certainty as it gets inside a boxing ring. Smith will serve up openings for Beterbiev, who carries fearsome power until the very end. The stoppage could come at any time really but I see Beterbiev beating up Smith inside eight rounds.”

STEVE FARHOOD (TV ANALYST): BETERBIEV TKO

“There’s a temptation to say, “The winner will be whichever puncher lands first,” but I have to favor Beterbiev because … he’s likely to land first! In a fight that will feature heavy, heavy punches, I’ll go Beterbiev by late-rounds stoppage.”

JEAN PASCAL (FORMER WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER): BETERBIEV KO 6

“I think it’s a good fight. It’s two punchers, so whoever lands first will probably win. I’m leaning toward Beterbiev because I think he’s more skilled and has a better amateur background.”

CALLUM SMITH (FORMER RING/ WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER): BETERBIEV TKO

“Good fight. Both big punchers, who won’t have to go looking for each other. I think Beterbiev’s better skill level will be the difference. Beterbiev by late stoppage.”

ERIC BOTTJER (MATCHMAKER): BETERBIEV TKO 9

“Beterbiev will win inside the distance, say by Round 9. He throws more, lands more, is the harder puncher and the overall better fighter. Nobody can top Joe Smith’s toughness, but in this case that only results in the bout going past six rounds.”

SERGIO MORA (FORMER WBC JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER/ TV ANALYST): SMITH TKO 9

“Joe Smith Jr. and Artur Beterbiev are two of the most heavy-handed punchers in boxing. Both are also proven to take a big punch, so this fight will go rounds. I see Beterbiev having success early and Smith timing him with something big. I think power, youth and blue-collared championship experience are enough to take down the monster.”

RUDY HERNANDEZ (TRAINER): BETERBIEV TKO

“Beterbiev vs. Smith looks to be a really good fight as they both seem to like to engage. The fight will be competitive as long as it lasts. Smith’s jab will give Beterbiev a bit of a problem at the beginning, but once Beterbiev over comes it, he’ll breakdown Smith little-by-little. I think Beterbiev will stop Smith in the second half of the fight. Beterbiev is getting older and is slowing down a bit, but in this fight, I think he will have enough of what it takes to beat Smith by late stoppage.”

Final Tally: Beterbiev 19-1

https://www.ringtv.com/640527-fight-picks-artur-beterbiev-vs-joe-smith-jr/

 

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