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We’ve got another huge title fight on our hands this weekend with IBF and WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev looking to defend his crowns against WBO light heavyweight champ Joe Smith, Jr. The winner of the matchup will leave with three of the four major boxing belts to establish himself as the top fighter in the division.
These are two formidable opponents, who rank No.2 (Beterbiev) and No. 3 (Smith) in the world based on The Ring’s latest rankings.
Beterbiev rose to fame as an amateur, winning Gold at the 2009 World Championships and later participating in the 2012 Olympics. As a professional, he’s posted a perfect 17-0 mark, with all 17 wins coming by way of the knockout. He landed the IBF light heavyweight crown by taking down Enrico Koelling in 2017 and has successfully defended it since. He then won the WBC light heavyweight belt by defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019.
Can he keep his titles in a bout versus Joe Smith, Jr.? It certainly won’t be easy.
Smith is a veteran that’s posted a 28-3 mark as a pro, knocking out 22 opponents along the way. He won the WBO light heavyweight championship in 2021 with a victory over Maxim Vlasov. He then defended that crown this past January, landing a win over Steve Geffrard.
The matchup will come down to two different styles of play. Beterbiev will try to be the aggressor, looking for another strong knockout punch. Smith, on the other hand, will hope to play defense and wait for his time to strike.
Which will prevail on Saturday night?
Betmaker takes a look at the upcoming matchup to give a pick for the massive light heavyweight title bout.
ESPN Pro Boxing Preview
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith, Jr.
Date and Time: Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 10 PM EST
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Odds: Artur Beterbeiv (-835) vs. Joe Smith, Jr. (+500)
TV Coverage: ESPN and ESPN+
ESPN Pro Boxing Betting Preview
Beterbiev enters as the heavy favorite, boasting -835 odds at Sugar House Sportsbook. It will take a hefty wager to land a payout on a Beterbiev win as you’ll have to lay down $835 to see just a $100 profit. Vegas certainly views the Russian as the better fighter.
Smith, despite his No. 3 world ranking, comes in as a +500 underdog. If you think he’ll pull the upset, it could provide a very profitable payout. A $100 wager will land a $500 win should Smith do the unthinkable.
These two boxers boast different skills. Beterbiev possesses power and aggression. He’s looking for the knockout blow that sends his opponent to the mat. He’s going to look to get in close and hit Smith with a barrage of body shots and jabs before delivering that final match-ending punch.
For that reason, the sportsbooks see a knockout as the most likely method of victory for Beterbiev. The odds come in at -278 for a KO while Beterbiev landing a win by points stands at +400. For this reason, the fight is not expected to go the distance with odds of -385. The chances of hearing the final bell come in at +265.
Smith, too, has a better chance to land a knockout punch, though his odds sit at +900 for a KO victory. His chances of winning by decision sit at +1300. The odds of a tie in this fight are +1800.
Can Smith hold off Beterbiev’s aggressive attack or will the fast-punching Russian leave with another light heavyweight belt?
ESPN Pro Boxing Prediction
We’ll stick with Beterbiev, here, as he’s the odds on favorite to land the win. While Smith certainly possesses the experience, Beterbiev’s power will prove too much. With his odds sitting at -835, though, we’ll look to the method of victory.
Take Beterbiev to land a win by way of the knockout, notching an 18th KO to extend his winning streak and take home a third light heavyweight title.
The Pick: Beterbiev by KO (-278)
