:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/AK3H4SC6VBAP3NQRQUCTVF6EGY.jpg "Unstoppable: Artur Beterbiev knocked out Smith Jr, went undefeated, won the title and will seek revenge for Canelo Álvarez")
Russian-born Canadian boxer Artur Beterbyev won this Saturday by knockout in two rounds against the American Joe Smith Jr. and snatched the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight belt from him.
In the Madison Square GardenAt New York, Beterbiev was a beating machine and he needed just 5:19 minutes to knock out the persistent Smith jr, who he sent to the canvas up to three times before the fight was stopped by the referee.
Beterbiev already had the belts of the World Council (CMB) and the International Federation (FIB), to which was added the WBO.
Smith jr came out to make a difference with him cut. In the first minute of the fight has come a long way, but Beterbiev dodged it well with good lateral movements. About to close the inning, he crossed the American with his right hand and caused a protective count.
In the second round, the canadian went to seek the adversary, took advantage of his open guard and let go in the first minute with a right hand. He sent him back to the mat soon after and continued, prompting the referee to stop the match, at minute 2:19 of the second round.
“It’s about who struck first and I got lucky; now I am interested in the struggle for unification, “said Beterbiev in reference to his possible confrontation with the Russians Dmitry Bivolwho on May 7 unanimously defeated the Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and retained the title of World Association.
If confirmed, the duel for the four light heavyweight belts will be the most awaited of recent times in world boxing as he will face two undefeated rivals, Bivol with 20 straight wins, 11 in the fast lane, and Beterviev with 18, all by knockout.
This Saturday, in the co-main event, the double Cuban Olympic champion, Robeisy Ramirezgave a spectacular knockout to the Puerto Rican Abraham Nova and raised his hand as one of the contenders for the world featherweight title.
After losing on his professional debut, Ramírez won his tenth consecutive victorysixth before the limit, in a fight in which he lost the first round, but from there he hit the best shots until in the fifth he knocked down Nova, who was undefeated in 21 fights.
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