IBF champion Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) left little doubt as to who is the Light Heavyweight king with a brilliant tenth round stoppage of WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
The Russian was initially credited with a knockdown in the first round but on review was overruled from being a push. Gvozdyk got back on track behind a solid jab and was ahead on the judges scorecards before Beterbiev’s persistence finally paid divided in the ninth, hurting the Ukrainian who was made to clinch in fear of hitting the canvas.
That act would come in the very next round, Gvozdyk finally took a knee in the tenth before he found the canvas twice more on his return to his feet before the fight was waved off. Time was 2:49.
“For this moment, it’s my most important fight,” said Beterbiev afterward. “I had big work to prepare for this fight.”
Keys to victory? “I think you have to ask my coaches about that. I have three coaches. We work in the gym. We work hard, and we have some targets. My first target, second target and other one comes soon.”
“It doesn’t matter {who I fight next.} Anyone. I’m focused on the title, not on the name.”
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