Artur Beterbiev systematically stops Callum Smith in Canada

WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev beat up and stopped former super middleweight champion Callum Smith at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. 

The time was 2:00 minutes into round seven.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) went to work in round one. The notorious slow starter mauled Smith. The challenger tried to box. He jabbed and moved to his left. He picked up the pace in the last minute of the round. Beterbiev landed a solid right at the bell. 

Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) jabbed in round two but ate a right. Beterbiev dug to the body. Smith landed a left. Beterbiev jabbed Smith in the mouth. His activity was more consistent. 

In round three, Beterbiev forced Smith into the ropes. Smith fired combinations. Beterbiev blocked them. Beterbiev connected with another strong left. He moved his attack to the body. Smith fought back. Beterbiev landed two rights–Smith was bleeding from the nose. His right eye showed damage. Beterbiev was systematically breaking him down. 
 
Beterbiev attacked in round four. Smith tried to hurt Beterbiev with something. Beterbiev opened up and hammered Smith with short headshots. Smith connected with a good uppercut. He fired shots that stopped Beterbiev for a few seconds. Beterbiev had banked the first four rounds unofficially. 

In round five, Smith tried to stay on the outside. There, he had a chance. Beterbiev fired clubbing blows. His jab snapped Smith’s head back. He worked Smith over every chance he got. Smith fired back, but his blows did not affect Beterbiev. 

Beterbiev connected with a lead right in round six. He was breaking Smith down. Smith went to the belly. He fired a left hook. No quit. Beterbiev worked over Smith in the corner. The UK fighter fought back with the old 1-2. The round was likely his. Beterbiev was immediately active in round seven. A big right hurt Smith. The former super middleweight champion wobbled to the ropes as Beterbiev battered him with blows. 

Finally, he went down for the first time in his career. Smith got up, but not for long. Beterbiev went to work, and Smith went down again. Smith’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, had seen enough. He told the referee the fight was over.