Artur Beterbiev Defends Titles, Sets Stage for Unification Fight with Dmitry Bivol

Beterbiev's victory over Callum Smith paves the way for a potential undisputed unification fight with Dmitry Bivol, likely to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.

Artur Beterbiev defended his WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight boxing titles by stopping Britain’s Callum Smith in the seventh round, improving to 20-0 and remaining the only world champion to win every fight by early stoppage.
Beterbiev's victory sets the stage for a likely undisputed unification fight with unbeaten World Boxing Association champion Dmitry Bivol of Russia.
Smith, a 33-year-old former WBA super middleweight champion, fell to 29-2. His only prior defeat was by unanimous decision in 2020 to Mexican star Canelo Alvarez.
Beterbiev was to have faced Smith last August but the fight was postponed after a bone infection required Beterbiev to have jaw surgery.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the much-anticipated clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.