Artur Beterbiev powers past Callum Smith to retain light-heavyweight titles and 100% knockout record

Artur Beterbiev showed his class by retaining his WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight titles against a spirited Callum Smith in Quebec City.

Smith fought admirably against the Russian, who holds the remarkable record of having stopped all 20 of his opponents at professional level.

The fight was curtailed in the seventh round when Beterbiev twice put Smith to the ground, and the Brit’s corner called time on the bout.

It was a defeat that ended Smith’s hopes of becoming a two-weight world champion, whereas Beterbiev now has his sights set on taking the WBA belt held by compatriot Dmitry Bivol.

When asked about how he has maintained his 100% knockout record, he replied: "I think it's because of luck.

"It's my coach working hard with me, maybe that's why too. But I think it's because of luck.

"I need a fourth belt. It would mean in this category I have done my work.”

Should the 38-year-old overcome Bivol, he will achieve the feat of being the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.

As for Smith, this was only the second defeat of a professional career spanning 31 fights, and he struggled to cope with the Russian’s intensity.

The Liverpudlian was on the ropes in the fourth round as Beterbiev delivered an array of jabs, hook punches and body shots that all managed to land.

Smith’s face was clearly bloodied and bruised as the fight came towards the halfway stage, and Beterbiev’s victory looked to be an inevitability.

But it was in the seventh round where Beterbiev really came into his own, and after catching Smith with a right hand, he delivered a series of shots to the head and body to curtail the bout.

Smith managed to rise off the floor at the count of eight, but was back on the canvas again moments later.

This prompted the 31-year-old's trainer Buddy McGirt to signal the end of the bout to referee Michael Griffin.

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