In three days, one man will hold three light heavyweight world titles. WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) will battle Long Island’s WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday evening at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The victor will be one step closer to attaining undisputed champion status.
Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian who now calls Canada home, is the only world champion in boxing with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He has been a world champion since 2017 and is widely regarded as the division’s top fighter. Smith, a one-time union laborer, cemented his “Rocky” story when he defeated Maxim Vlasov in April 2021 to win the WBO title. He defended that title in January with a ninth-round stoppage over Steve Geffrard.
Before fight night, catch up on the action behind the scenes with the two-part Blood, Sweat and Tears: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr. Part 1 & Part 2 are available to view on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe to Top Rank’s YouTube Channel for episodes of Top Rank Real Time, which gives fans a closer look at fight week festivities.
Thursday, June 16
PRESS CONFERENCE: Featuring Beterbiev, Smith Jr., Robeisy Ramirez, Abraham Nova, and Bruce Carrington.
1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
- Live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube/Twitter pages
Friday, June 17
Max on Boxing Live Weigh-In Show: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr.
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
- Live on ESPN2 and Top Rank’s YouTube/Twitter pages
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Abraham Nova, 10 rounds, Vacant USBA & WBO Global Featherweight Titles
Jahi Tucker vs. D’Andre Smith, 6 rounds, welterweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Daniil Platonovschi, 6/4 rounds, junior featherweight
Troy Isley vs. Donte Stubbs, 6 rounds, middleweight
Kieran Molloy vs. Jonathan Ryan Burrs, 4 rounds, junior middleweight
Wendy Toussaint vs. Asinia Byfield, 8 rounds, junior middleweight
Jahyae Brown vs. Keane McMahon, 6 rounds, junior middleweight.
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