Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith | ESPN - June 18, 2022

[margaret thatcher]

well, im a big joe smith fan, but now i hope bert wins this so we have a fresh undisputed fight rather than smith-bivol 2

I know how hard that was for you type.

You a pro Joe from the get go. Respect!

ya, i love smokin joe, would still be happy if he wins, but let's be honest bivol-smith 2 aint neaarly as hot as bivol-bert

[Ruthless-RKO]

well, im a big joe smith fan, but now i hope bert wins this so we have a fresh undisputed fight rather than smith-bivol 2

I know how hard that was for you type.

You a pro Joe from the get go. Respect!

ya, i love smokin joe, would still be happy if he wins, but let's be honest bivol-smith 2 aint neaarly as hot as bivol-bert

100%

[Mexi-Box]

well, im a big joe smith fan, but now i hope bert wins this so we have a fresh undisputed fight rather than smith-bivol 2

I know how hard that was for you type.

You a pro Joe from the get go. Respect!

ya, i love smokin joe, would still be happy if he wins, but let's be honest bivol-smith 2 aint neaarly as hot as bivol-bert

Uh, that was a painful fight to watch. Made me hate Bivol. Please no rematch, ever!

[Cent0089]

well, im a big joe smith fan, but now i hope bert wins this so we have a fresh undisputed fight rather than smith-bivol 2

I know how hard that was for you type.

You a pro Joe from the get go. Respect!

ya, i love smokin joe, would still be happy if he wins, but let's be honest bivol-smith 2 aint neaarly as hot as bivol-bert

Damn, me too i was hoping just to enjoy punchers fight but now will be rooting for Beterbiev because of Bivol fight

[margaret thatcher]

bivol is turning us into beterbiev fan boys for this one

[Thomastearns]

Wow, we're suddenly starting to find out who Bivol and Beterbiev are.

It's a but of a shame that it takes eastern Europeans so long to make it to the top.

They might have great amateur experience but they also get to take the harder and longer road.

Most are already in their 30s by the time they reach the very top so we don't get to see them at their best for too long.

Last night's events will raise the profile of this fight, and that's a good thing.

[Mexi-Box]

Wow, we're suddenly starting to find out who Bivol and Beterbiev are.

It's a but of a shame that it takes eastern Europeans so long to make it to the top.

They might have great amateur experience but they also get to take the harder and longer road.

Most are already in their 30s by the time they reach the very top so we don't get to see them at their best for too long.

Last night's events will raise the profile of this fight, and that's a good thing.

If Joe Smith pulls off the Hail Mary, you'll find out just why it took Bivol too long. The guy is freaking viewer poison if he fights certain styles.

Beterbiev will bring the best out of him, though, win or lose.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bivol Sides With Beterbiev To Topple Joe Smith - Wants To Unify With Winner

“First of all, it’s an interesting fight. [Beterbiev] has more chance [to win]: he has more power and boxing skills, [he's] a little better than Smith. He has much more fights in the amateurs which makes you more skilled, to give you more experience. Joe Smith still how the power and a big heart. It’s an interesting fight,” Bivol told the DAZN Boxing Show.

“Of course I want to fight the winner of this fight,” Bivol said.

Russia vs. Russia for the Undisputed LHW title.

May as well take place in Moscow.

[Jake Savage]

Hard fight to predict, mainly due to Beterbiev's age.

Beterbiev has better one punch KO power than Smith, and also has better overall technical skills (getting inside, setting up power shots, dictating the pace) due to his amateur background. But, Beterbiev has got to be 37 or 38 years old. He isn't going to improve and eventually he's going to start looking his age. Boxing is a young man's sport and as a rule of thumb I'd say fighters decline around 33.

Smith Jr is tough and rough as nails will equal Beterbiev in that respect, takes shots well, hits pretty hard in return and also has decent defense and underrated boxing ability. He's also the much younger, fresher fighter. I always remember his KTFO of the aged Bernard Hopkins.

Had Beterbiev been younger, I'd say he's an easy pick but at his age I could see Smith Jr pulling off the upset and even stopping Beterbiev after withstanding Beterbiev's best. Not a fight I'd wager on. I think the 2 most likely outcomes are Beterbiev by decision or Smith Jr by stoppage.

[Cent0089]

Is anyone besides me hyped for this? Best vs best, big punchers with entertaining boxing styles. Robeisy Ramirez vs Abraham Nova is very interesting and unpredictable co-main event

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is anyone besides me hyped for this? Best vs best, big punchers with entertaining boxing styles. Robeisy Ramirez vs Abraham Nova is very interesting and unpredictable co-main event

There’s 8 pages on here.

A few people are excited.

No one is as exciting as Mags.

But he now prefers Beterbiev to do the job as he wants to see him against Bivol.

No one really wants to see Bivol-Smith rematch.

[Cent0089]

Is anyone besides me hyped for this? Best vs best, big punchers with entertaining boxing styles. Robeisy Ramirez vs Abraham Nova is very interesting and unpredictable co-main event

There’s 8 pages on here.

A few people are excited.

No one is as exciting as Mags.

But he now prefers Beterbiev to do the job as he wants to see him against Bivol.

No one really wants to see Bivol-Smith rematch.

Yeah, but hopefully Joe bring some heat to this fight I believe this fight will live up to the expectations. How do you see Ramirez - Nova?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is anyone besides me hyped for this? Best vs best, big punchers with entertaining boxing styles. Robeisy Ramirez vs Abraham Nova is very interesting and unpredictable co-main event

There’s 8 pages on here.

A few people are excited.

No one is as exciting as Mags.

But he now prefers Beterbiev to do the job as he wants to see him against Bivol.

No one really wants to see Bivol-Smith rematch.

Yeah, but hopefully Joe bring some heat to this fight I believe this fight will live up to the expectations. How do you see Ramirez - Nova?

I can’t pick that one.

Should be a really good fight hopefully.

Maybe edge Ramirez.

[Cent0089]

There’s 8 pages on here.

A few people are excited.

No one is as exciting as Mags.

But he now prefers Beterbiev to do the job as he wants to see him against Bivol.

No one really wants to see Bivol-Smith rematch.

Yeah, but hopefully Joe bring some heat to this fight I believe this fight will live up to the expectations. How do you see Ramirez - Nova?

I can’t pick that one.

Should be a really good fight hopefully.

Maybe edge Ramirez.

Yeah, i cannot too ....big fan of Ramirez since 2012 olympics, but this Nova guy seems like a bad man, also should be a bigger than Ramirez looking forward to this one

[brilo33]

i think joe has improved his boxing enough to use the jab to set beterbiev for a big shot, if smith lands he lights out artur, but theres a flip side to the coin if artur lands could end jr never been ko out record i dont give enough credit to artur he can box and he is very good i think his percenty to want to trade can leave him open, smith is big rangey athletic i think he will do it

[gregregegg]

With beterbs age I have this as a near 50-50... Bookies have it as 7-1 ish. Normally I bet 5bucks, just dropped 60 and thinking about going again.

What's everyone's though here? Seems a madness to be soooo wide.

[brilo33]

With beterbs age I have this as a near 50-50... Bookies have it as 7-1 ish. Normally I bet 5bucks, just dropped 60 and thinking about going again.

What's everyone's though here? Seems a madness to be soooo wide.

yea seems very wide i think 60/40 fight in most boxing peoples eyes , i could be biased ,but i remember years back touting smith v monaghan so id loved to see the bomber beat beter also i was always a bivol fan over beter years back too, smith is the real all american blue collar fighter now though he was the irish bomber with the tri flag 5 years ago so he has a big backing now,the russians are frowned apon now aswell which goes in smiths favour, look a few years ago i would say jr only had a punches chance but now i think he could win on points aswell. a big ask yes but certainly not out the realms of possibility ,it wont be a shock if smith wins for to be honest i will be genuinely gutted if he loses problay the only fighter at the moment i ride the punches with the fight

[margaret thatcher]

only 2 weeks till this slobber knocker

[Cent0089]

Will there be that Blood sweat and tears promos from ESPN ?

[Cent0089]

Betting companies usually knows what they doing, but 7-1 for Beterbiev is too much for me too. Something like 3-1 is more realistic. Im hope this fight would be entertaining No boxing no life

[apollo creed]

Hard fight to predict knowing the age of Beterbiev.

[Mexi-Box]

Beterbiev will always be suspect due to his age, but outside of that, Smith only has a puncher's chance. I'd love for Smith to win if it wasn't for Bivol. No one wants to see Bivol/Smith: 2. I literally stopped watching their fight midway. It was almost as bad as Bailey/Alexander.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | June 18: Beterbiev vs. Smith LIVE On ESPN @ Hulu Theater At MSG!

Beterbiev-Smith & Robeisy Ramirez-Abraham Nova featherweight co-feature will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Three belts and light heavyweight supremacy will be at stake when WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev meets WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. in a highly anticipated unification showdown Saturday, June 18, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Beterbiev, boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, hopes to pick up another strap against “Cinderella Man” Smith, a Long Island native who grew up about 70 miles from Madison Square Garden.

In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez will battle the unbeaten Abraham “El Super” Nova. Beterbiev-Smith and Ramirez-Nova will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, tickets starting at $56 go on sale Friday, May 6 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com.

“Beterbiev versus Smith is one of the very best fights that can be made in boxing, two huge punchers fighting at Madison Square Garden in what will be an electric atmosphere. Whoever comes out on top will be the true king of the light heavyweight division,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez has developed into a sensational pro, and he will have his hands full against a tough, undefeated kid in Abraham Nova. The winner will be in line to fight for a featherweight world title.”

“I am thrilled we were able to put this sensational championship unification fight together,” said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. “The top two punchers in boxing fighting each other for their three world titles. It has been brewing for a long time and is a potential fight of the year. Joe Smith Jr. is proud of his humble background and hard-working union ‘Common Man’ moniker, but he is also truly special and a real champ. He could have chosen an easier path, but he wanted the best and toughest out there, the guy everyone is afraid to fight. Credit to both champions, each fighting the toughest, hardest-punching and most dangerous foe the division has. I can’t wait to see this fight!”

Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs), a two-time Russian Olympian, has spent his nine-year pro career based in Montreal, Canada. He has been a world champion since knocking out Enrico Koelling for the IBF strap in November 2017. He’s won five title fights inside the distance since then, including an off-the-deck victory over Callum Johnson and a title unification classic versus Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019. Beterbiev went 2-0 in 2021, capping the year with December’s brutal ninth-round stoppage over longtime contender Marcus Browne.

“I look forward to the challenge ahead of me. Joe Smith Jr. is a worthy champion, but I am coming to Madison Square Garden to add another world title to my collection,” Beterbiev said. “This fight will get me one step closer to becoming undisputed champion.”

Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) earned mainstream recognition with his 2016 knockout of living legend Bernard Hopkins and scored standout wins over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez in 2020. In his second world title attempt, he outlasted Maxim Vlasov in a 2021 Fight of the Year Contender. Smith successfully defend his world title in January with a ninth-round stoppage over late replacement Steve Geffrard.

Smith said, “I am extremely excited and focused on this task I have ahead. Facing Beterbiev is huge. It is going to be a fight that fans remember forever, with two of the biggest punches in boxing today facing off. This opportunity is a dream of mine to accomplish. Fighting with three titles on the line is one step closer to becoming undisputed.”

Working with longtime trainer JERRY CAPOBIANCO, Smith is very happy with his training camp for this fight.

“We stayed home as we always do, we have everything we need right here on Long Island,” said the hard-hitting Smith. “Every camp we add in different things that work for me to make me a better boxer and I’ve improved greatly the last few years. That and my conditioning has improved which has helped me to have strong second halves of fights.”

“Last Sunday I was out on the beach working by digging holes and running with a parachute in the sand. It’s a little different but great for my strength and conditioning. I know I’ll be fully prepared for Beterbiev on June 18.”

“I’ve been hearing about Beterbiev being the best in the light heavyweight for a few years. He’s knocking everyone out and they call him the boogeyman of the division but I’m ready mentally and physically for the fight.”

“I’m very happy to be fighting at Madison Square Garden, I’ve never fought there as a professional, just as an amateur in the Gloves. I haven’t fought at home in six years but I’m sure I’ll have a lot of support from Long Island on fight night.”

Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing said, “Joe and I have been together on this incredible journey for almost ten years. I am proud we were able to provide him with the opportunities that enabled him to become a world champion. From developmental fights on Long Island as a prospect to fighting on boxing’s biggest stages, Joe has always taken the biggest challenges and comes prepared for victory. He has been working hard and keeps learning. His hard work has been on display over the course of his career as he has improved in all facets in the ring.”

“June 18 is going to be a very special night, a three-belt world title unification between two very talented, hard punching light heavyweights at The Mecca of Boxing. Boxing fans and longtime loyal supporters of Joe have definitely picked up on the excitement of the fight as advance ticket sales have been phenomenal.”

Ramirez (9-1, 5 KOs) has been on a sterling run since a shocking loss in his August 2019 professional debut. An Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016, Ramirez is coming off one-sided victories over the unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez and Irish veteran Eric Donovan. Nova (21-0, 15 KOs), who spent much of his career at junior lightweight, has been flawless since moving up to the featherweight ranks. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Albany, New York, Nova knocked out William Encarnacion in eight rounds on the Smith-Geffrard undercard in January.

Ramirez said, “I have always wanted to display my talent on a stage as important as the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. Come June 18, I will not only take advantage of this big opportunity, but I will also hand Nova the first loss of his career. I’m going to take a big leap in my quest to become world champion, and above all, showcase my class and give boxing fans another great performance. I will make clear that ‘El Tren’ is a true powerhouse in the featherweight division.”

Nova said, “Robeisy is a great talent, and he’s the fighter that will get me to that next level. I need a statement victory. Beating a two-time gold medalist puts me right in the title picture. The better the competition, the better I look. Nobody has seen the best of me yet, and I will show that on June 18.”

The undercard, which will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+, is scheduled to feature many of the sport’s rising superstars. In six-round bouts, Brooklyn-born featherweight puncher Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (3-0, 2 KOs) and Long Island welterweight Jahi Tucker (7-0, 4 KOs) hope to extend their unbeaten records. U.S. Olympian Troy Isley (5-0, 3 KOs), fresh off his knockout win on the Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson undercard, returns in a six-round middleweight bout. Featherweight Kurt Walker (2-0, 1 KO) and junior middleweight Kieran Molloy (1-0, 1 KO), both of whom starred for the Irish national team as amateurs, will make their respective U.S. debuts.

[margaret thatcher]

great fight between the ko artist canadian and smokin joe

[bobcatbox]

Man this is going to be so awesome.