Beterbiev improves to 20-0 with 20th knockout, stopping Smith to retain light heavyweight titles

1 of 9 |

The referee sends Artur Beterbiev, left, to a corner as Callum Smith tries to get up during a boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

2 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev celebrates his win over Callum Smith during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

3 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, left, tries to hit Callum Smith with a right during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

4 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, left, hits Callum Smith during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

5 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, right, hits Callum Smith during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

6 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, right, and Callum Smith fight in a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

7 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, right, and Callum Smith compete in a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

8 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, left, throws a left at Callum Smith during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

9 of 9 |

Artur Beterbiev, left, hits Callum Smith during a light heavyweight boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Quebec City. (Patrice Laroche/The Canadian Press via AP)

QUEBEC CITY (AP) — Artur Beterbiev improved to 20-0 with his 20th knockout, stopping Callum Smith in the seventh round Saturday night to retain the WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles.

Fighting a week before his 39th birthday, the Russian-born Beterbiev hit Smith (29-2) with a hard right, followed by a flurry that sent the English challenger to the canvas. Beterbiev quickly floored Smith again, with trainer Buddy McGirt stepping in to stop the bout with a minute to go the round.

“Smith is a fighter that I respect a lot but in the third or fourth round, I knew I had him and it was only a matter of time,” Beterbiev said.

The fight was pushed back from August to allow Beterbiev to recover from a jaw infection.

Based in Montreal for more than a decade, Beterbiev is boxing’s lone champion with a perfect knockout rate. He has made seven successful defenses at 175 pounds.

Beterbiev is working on a deal to fight fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight championship, likely in Saudi Arabia.

“Artur just finished 16 weeks of training and with Ramadan in March, I think he has earned a good rest,” trainer Marc Ramsey said.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports