Titles on the line: Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. throw hands

Joe Smith Jr. is all hardscrabble - a fighter who’s worked his way up from nothing to light heavyweight honors. Smith is gritty as hell. 

Beterbiev and Smith will lace em up and let em fly Saturday, June 18, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Russian-born Beterbiev, who lives and fights out of Canada, is a two-time Olympian. He captured the IBF light heavyweight belt in his 12th fight and got off the deck to stop Callum Johnson in 2018.

Beterbiev rallied to stop WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a give take donnybrook a year later. The 37-year-old fought twice in 2021, dominating Adam Deines and, with blood leaking from a cut on his forehead, battering Marcus Brown into submission. 

“I look forward to the challenge," said Beterbiev a few weeks ago at a press conference. "Joe Smith Jr. is a worthy champion, but I am coming to Madison Square Garden to add another world title to my collection."

Smith burst onto the scene when he knocked Bernard Hopkins out of the ring in 2016. He sustained a broken jaw while losing to Sullivan Barrera eight months later. Long Island-born Smith still received a shot against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol but lost by a wide decision. 

Now what? Smith went back to his day job as a union laborer. Soon after, he started a company with his father. They called it Team Smith Tree Service. 

Walking away from boxing was there if he wanted.

Not a chance. 

In 2020, Smith faced high-ranking contender Jesse Hart in a make-or-break match. Another loss would end his days as a contender and possibly a professional fighter. Hart was heavily favored. Smith knocked Hart down – winning the fight by split decision. To receive another title shot, Smith would have to defeat former champion Eleider Alvarez - who considered his bout with Smith a mere tune-up. 

Tune-up this. Smith stopped Alvarez in round nine. His second title shot arrived last year. Smith and opponent Maxim Vlasov fought tooth and nail, with Smith emerging as the winner and new champion.  

Beterbiev is a 12-1 favorite. He’s five years older than the 32-year-old Smith. Will it matter? There’s been rumblings that Beterbiev showed signs of aging in his last two fights. He hasn’t been as sharp they said, even though he managed to win both bouts convincingly. 

Smith will have to be at his best to defeat Beterbiev. A leaky defense has improved over the years, but Beterbiev’s power can bludgeon an opponent. 

Will he be able to take it when Beterbiev turns up the heat? 

I don’t think so. I see Beterbiev stopping Smith after round five.