Light Heavyweight destroyer Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) kept his 100% knockout ratio in tact with the stoppage of former super middleweight champion Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) in seven rounds on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Smith boxed well but was stunted by the thudding shots of Beterbiev. The Russian looked to be closing the show in the fourth, battering Smith before the Liverpudlian rallied late in the round. Smith showed incredible heart but was undone in the seventh after being dropped twice before trainer Buddy McGirt stepped into the ring to save his fighter from further punishment. Time was 2:00.

“We had a couple strategies; we always have more than one,” said Beterbiev afterwards “… He gave me a good fight. He stayed strong. Thanks to him. Today, luck is on my side.”

The conversation then moved to a future matchup with Dmitry Bivol, “Yes, of course [I want the Bivol fight],” Beterbiev said. “I need another belt. It would mean a lot to me.”

Added Beterbiev’s promoter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum: “It’s not done yet, but absolutely we want to do it. I’ll be talking to my friend His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I know he wants to do it, but Ramadan is coming. So, about three months after the end of Ramadan we’ll be ready to fight Dmitry Bivol, probably in Riyadh.”

Picture Courtesy of Top Rank