Results
Artur Beterbiew vs. Callum Smith fight
Artur Beterbiev defended his unified delicate heavyweight world titles with a brutal seventh-round victory over Callum Smith in Canada on Saturday.
Beterbiev dropped Smith twice in the seventh round, ahead of the Briton’s trainer Buddy McGirt signaled referee Michael Griffin to end the fight WBC, WBO and IBF champion, extending his perfect record to 20 straight wins, all by knockout.
Question marks surrounded Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KO) during fight week after it was revealed that the Russian-born Canadian returned an unusual result from a VADA test returned on December 6, but it was not considered a violation and he was cleared to fight after passing all further VADA tests.
The 38-year-old, who stopped Anthony Yarde in the eighth round last January, sharply warns the guy about his strength from the very beginning, stalking Smith (29-2, 21 KO) and forcing him to land a punch on the back of the foot, while unleashing powerful combos.
The former super middleweight world champion responded with a much better second round, landing punches to the body in an attempt to snail-paced down the home favorite, but a left hand snapped his head back and kept him in check.
The challenger was recognized after a challenging third round, and Beterbiev kicked into high gear in the fourth round, stopping the hefty blows of the 33-year-old, who was forced to bravely take punishment on the ropes.
‘Mundo’, who has recorded two victories since moving up to delicate heavyweight, was forced to let his hands go, but his shots didn’t seem to hurt Beterbiev enough to discourage him and he continued to march forward despite sending in some solid body shots in the fifth .
Smith’s face was bloody and the pressure Beterbiev was putting on finally took its toll in the seventh round.
A huge right hand signaled the beginning of Smith, who stumbled in the ring as the champion unleashed a barrage of punches for the first time in his 31-fight professional career that sent him to the canvas.
The Liverpudlian bravely got up at the count of eight and went bust, trading with Beterbiev in a desperate attempt to fend off the attacking knockout artist, but moments later he went down a second time after landing more devastating blows.
Smith’s trainer, McGirt, stood on the ring apron and even entered the ring himself to signal that he wanted the charges dropped and the referee properly committed.
Beterbiev improved his perfect record and set his sights on a long-awaited undisputed title clash with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, with his promoter Bob Arum suggesting the fight could end in Saudi Arabia this summer.
“Of course, [I want to fight Bivol]– said Beterbiev ESPN after the fight.
“I need a fourth belt. This would mean that I have succeeded in this category.
“It means a lot to me. This is the top.”
Smith suffered his second professional loss and first by stoppage, with his last loss coming in December 2020 to Canelo Alvarez.
“He had good momentum, good pressure, kept me from getting into a rhythm,” he told ESPN after the fight.
“The better man won tonight. He caught me with a good shot, it happens. Fair game.
“No excuses, the better man won today.”
Mbilli calls out Canelo after Murdock’s retirement
Christian Mbilli came close to winning the super middleweight world title after forcing Rohan Murdock to withdraw from the fight after six grueling rounds.
Mbilli (26-0, 22 KO) was relentless from the opening bell and forced Murdock (27-3, 19 KO) to fight on the defensive for much of the fight.
The undefeated Frenchman dragged his opponent to the ropes in the fifth round, and the Australian did well to survive the attack.
The 31-year-old had a better sixth round, but continued to eat hefty punches and was withdrawn from his corner at the end of the round.
MBILLA’S BAD INTENTIONS 🍿 pic.twitter.com/4BOVA52Ooa
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 14, 2024
Mbilli, who defended his WBC title in mainland America, is the number one contender in both the WBC and WBA behind undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez and has called for a fight with the Mexican.
“Everyone knows Canelo is the best” The 28-year-old told ESPN after the fight.
“Now I want to show that I am the best in the division.
“That’s why my goal is to fight Canelo.
“I will do everything in my power to fight Canelo.”
Moloney defended his world title
Jason Moloney successfully defended his WBO bantamweight title for the first time, defeating Saul Sanchez by majority decision.
Moloney, who clinched the vacant title with a majority decision victory over Vincent Astrolabio in May, had to dig deep in a thrilling fight that saw both sides evenly matched.
The fight intensified and seemed fierce heading into a pulsating final round that saw both fighters on the run until the final bell.
Two scores of 116-112 erased the drawn score of 114-114 and ensured Moloney (27-2, 19 KO) defended his title despite a valiant effort from Sanchez (20-3, 12 KO), who was fighting in his first world title fight.
Khataev stops Ludwiczak
Imam Khataev continued his knockout streak after the second stoppage over Michał Ludwiczak (17-3-1, 9 KO).
Khataev (6-0, 6 KO), the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, captured the vacant NABF delicate heavyweight title with his sixth straight victory.
A bullet destroying man 😳
Imam Khataev makes it look too effortless. pic.twitter.com/ugye7Ljgca
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 14, 2024
Undercard remaining
Elsewhere in the delicate heavyweight division, Memhet Unal (8-0, 7 KO) secured a first-round victory over Dragan Lepei (22-7-2, 10 KO).
Canadian welterweight prospect Christopher Guerrero (10-0, 5 KO) secured his tenth consecutive victory in his professional career with a unanimous decision over Sergio Garcia Herrera (7-4, 4 KO).
Leila Beuadoin got revenge on Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza in a super featherweight rematch.
Leila Beaudoin takes revenge 😈 pic.twitter.com/RP3b4IgiZg
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 14, 2024
Mexican Espinoza (4-6-3, 1 KO) won her first match by unanimous decision in her home country, but suffered the opposite result against Beuadoin (11-1, 1 KO), this time in her hometown.
Moreno Fendero (3-0, 2 KO) knocked out Victor Hugo Flores (7-3, 3 KO) in the first round of their super middleweight bout, while Quebec native Wilkens Mathieu (6-0, 3 KO) extended his winning streak undefeated record after winning by unanimous decision over Jose Arias Alvarez (3-2, 1 KO).
Paulie Malignanggi believes that Tyson Fury is no longer the same fighter he once was, and he will not beat Oleksandr Usyk in Saturday’s rematch.
Fury decides to take revenge for his own loss of split decision to Usyk in May, when he meets the Ukrainian for the second time in Riyad.
Fury was given eight points after tripping over the ropes following a powerful attack from his rival, and Malignaggi feels his three fights with Deontay Wilder, in which he fell four times, are starting to catch up with him.
“I don’t know if Wilder and Fury are the same after these three fights,” the 41-year-old said talkSPORT Boxing.
“Wilder certainly didn’t look the same as Fury to me, his impact resistance was always one of the best.
“He got up from Deontay Wilder’s punches that would have made buildings collapse, and now Oleksandr Usyk, a former cruiserweight, turned him around and dropped him in the first fight.
“What are the lasting effects of the Wilder trilogy?
“Who is one of the most devastating boxers in history.”
The “Gypsy King” suffered the first defeat in his 36-fight professional career, but announced that he would end the 37-year-old’s career on Saturday.
Usyk remains undefeated in his 22-fight professional career, and in May he won the undisputed heavyweight title, the first man in the four-belt era to do so.
Former world champion Malignaggi believes that Usyk, who vacated the IBF belt after the first fight, will repeat the feat.
“I will choose Usyk,” he added.
“I don’t think Fury has it anymore.
“It’s no disrespect to Fury.
“I’ve always loved Fury, I’m just not sure if he can bring him back.”
Frank Warren today revealed that a third fight between the two teams is in the contract – provided Fury emerges victorious and neither retires – while the long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua could be an alternative option for the Manchester fighter.
Tyson Fury described both Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois as “very constrained” compared to him ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury, who saw Dubois defeat Joshua in five rounds at Wembley Stadium in September, is preparing for a second fight with Usyk on December 21 in Riyad, seven months after his first professional defeat against split decision for the undisputed title of heavyweight champion.
The ‘Gypsy King’ insists he will box in a similar fashion when he faces the Ukrainian for the unified heavyweight titles, as well as facing his rival in midfield, something he believes both Joshua and Dubois were unable to do , when they stood against him.
– What can you expect from me? Fury said during his face-to-face meeting with Usyk TNT Sports.
“Basically the same thing I did before.
“Good boxing.
“It’s not normal for someone my height and weight to be able to box and move and slide, so why should I take that away from my game.
“People tell me: go up to Usyk, take him down and punch him, but if it was so effortless why didn’t Joshua do it, who is a massive, sturdy man?
“Why didn’t Dubois do it?
“These men are constrained compared to me, very constrained.”
The 37-year-old Usyk defeated “AJ” twice on points and stopped Dubois, and Fury became the fifth Briton to fall victim to him.
The Manchester athlete believes it cost him an impressive performance in his first outing and has vowed to remain focused when facing Usyk on Saturday in three weeks’ time.
“I belong to a boxer,” the 36-year-old added.
“Slip, slide, clip, hook.
“I’m going to do it, but with more focus.
“A little more focused on my job and I think that’s my path to victory.”
David Benavidez gave some harsh advice to Mike Tyson following his loss to Jake Paul last weekend.
Benavidez was one of millions of people around the world who witnessed Paul comfortably defeat an extremely faded Tyson to score wide unanimous decision victory.
At 58 years antique, “Iron Mike” looked like a shell of the man who ruled the heavyweight division in his prime, and some observers even believe he was carried by the YouTuber and could have been stopped at any time.
Despite the fact that the two only competed for two minutes, the fight was fully sanctioned and will go down in their records.
It was Tyson’s first professional fight since his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, Benavidez said. Fighting Hub TV this should be his last.
“He needs to retire.”
Offering further analysis, “The Mexican Monster” explained that he was simply relieved to see the former heavyweight king leave the ring unscathed.
“It was a good fight and a good turnout, but I don’t want to see Mike Tyson fight again. Let’s hope he says it.
“𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😕
Jake Paul admits he stopped Mike Tyson last night.#PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/yIDrNf138b
— Professional boxing fans (@ProBoxingFans) November 16, 2024
“It was a good performance, Mike Tyson won there and earned well, and he deserves it. I’m just content he didn’t get injured there.
“Mike Tyson is Mike Tyson, but 60-year-old Mike Tyson is different.”
In a post-fight interview, Tyson seemed interested in fighting Jake’s brother, Logan, but has since insisted on social media that he will not return to the ring.
The series has reportedly attracted approximately 108 million viewers on Netflix, making it by far the most-watched boxing event in recent memory.
Tyson grossed an estimated $20 million, while “The Problem Child” is believed to have grossed about twice that amount.
Benavidez spoke at the press conference kicking off his Feb. 1 fight with David Morrell, which is widely considered to be one of the toughest of his career.
‼️ David Benavidez and David Morrell hot up and exchange words during their first fight before February 1…
[🎥 @PremierBoxing] pic.twitter.com/LZtU32nZ9Q
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBenson) November 19, 2024
The pair will face each other at T-Mobile Arena on Amazon Prime pay-per-view, with the winner all but guaranteed a shot at the delicate heavyweight world title.
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