Artur Beterbiev makes it 18-for-18; Bombs Out Joe Smith Jr

Heavy-handed Artur Beterbiev, a two-time Olympian, has won all 18 of his pro fights by knockout. Number 18 came tonight at the Hulu Theater of Madison Square Garden. The victim was the noted spoiler Joe Smith Jr.

Smith, the over-achieving blue-collar worker from Long Island, started fast, taking the fight right to Beterbiev, but Beterbiev showed that he was superior before the first round was over. In the waning seconds of the opening frame, he tagged Smith with an overhand right that landed above Smith’s left ear. Smith fell to his knee.

In round two, Beterbiev dismantled him. Smith went down to a knee again after taking a punch that landed on the top of his head. He beat the count, but was knocked down again. Smith staggered backwards after absorbing yet another hard punch and referee Harvey Dock waived it off.

Beterbiev, from Montreal by way of Russia, entered the contest owning the WBC and IBF world title belts at 175 pounds. Smith had the WBO belt. His victory sets up a four-belt showdown with WBA title-holder Dmitry Bivol but, by all indications, Beterbiev’s next test will come in London against Anthony Yarde, likely in October. Yarde was in attendance tonight.

Joe Smith had won four straight since losing a wide decision to Bivol. With the loss, his record declined to 28-4. As for Beterbiev, the Russian Bear is getting long in the tooth – he’s 37 – but shows no signs of slowing down.

Co-Feature

In a featherweight match slated for 10, Cuban defector Robeisy Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, scored the best win of his young pro career with a fifth-round KO of previously undefeated Abraham Nova. A sweeping right hook missed its mark but the follow-up, a straight left, landed flush. Nova went down like a brick, his lead laying under the lower strand of rope, and the referee didn’t bother to count.

Ramirez, who shockingly lost his pro debut, improved to 10-1 (6 KOs). Nova, a native of Puerto Rico who lives in Albany, NY, was 21-0 (15) heading in. The official time was 2:20 of round five.

Also

In an 8-round junior middleweight match, Joe Smith Jr’s stablemate Wendy Toussaint won a unanimous decision over 33-year-old British invader Asinia Byfield (15-5-1). A Long Island school bus driver and volunteer fireman, born in Haiti, Toussaint improved to 14-1 (6). His only defeat came at the hands of former U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell. The judges had it 79-73 across the board.

More

6 rounds featherweights — Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (4-0, 3 KOs) stopped Adrian Leyva (3-3-1) when the bout was called after five rounds.

6 rounds welterweights — Jahi Tucker (8-0, 5 KOs) stopped D’Andre Smith (11-2) at the 2:27 mark of round four

6 rounds featherweights — Floyd Diaz (5-0, 1 KO) scored a unanimous decision (59-55, 60-54×2) over Danil Platonovschi (4-1, 1 KO)

6 rounds middleweights — Troy Isley (6-0, 4 KOs) stopped Donte Stubbs (6-6, 2 KOs) at the 0:38 mark of round six

6 rounds junior middleweights — Jahyae Brown (11-0, 8 KOs) won a unanimous decision (60-54, 58-56×2) over Keane McMahon (7-3, 4 KOs)

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