Boxing

Artur Beterbiev Unifies, Stops Joe Smith In 2 At MSG!


By Ken Hissner: At Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, Saturday, undercard over ESPN+ and ESPN in the Main and co-feature promoted by Bob Arum (Top Rank) and Joe DeGuardia (Star Boxing) in the Main Event WBC and IBF World Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev unified three titles with three knockdowns stopping WBO World Light Heavyweight champion ”The Beast from the East” Joe Smith, Jr., meet in a unification bout.

In the Main Event 2-time Olympian WBC and IBF World Light Heavy champ Artur Beterbiev, 18-0 (18), #175, of RUS and Montreal, Quebec, CAN, unified three titles stopping WBO Light Heavy World champ “The Beast from the East” Joe Smith, Jr., 28-4 (22), #174.6, of Long Island, NY, at 2:19 of the second round scoring three knockdowns in a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first round Beterbiev continued to land rights over the jab of Smith and ended the round landing one on the back of the head of Smith for the first knockdown in his career for an 8-count by Referee Harvey Dock with seconds lasting in the round.

In the second round Beterbiev landed a right to the head of Smith for another 8-count from referee Dock. Seconds later a right to the head for the third knockdown of the fight for an 8-count from referee Dock.

Beterbiev landed five unanswered right hand punches to the head knocking him off balance causing referee Dock to wisely call a halt.

In the co-feature WBO No. 4 ranked Featherweight Abraham “El Super” Nova, 21-1 (15), #125.4, of PR and Albany, NY, was knockout by southpaw 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist WBO No. 12 ranked Robeisy Ramirez, 10-1 (6), #125.8, of Cienfuegos, Cuba and Gulfport, FL, at 2:20 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10 rounds, for the USBA and WBO NABO titles.

In the first round Nova landed a jab followed by a right on the chin of Ramirez at the start but was outworked the rest of the way. In the second round southpaw Ramirez used a good right hook to the chin of Nova halfway through the round. He also landed a punch after the bell being warned by Referee Charlie Fitch. In the third round’s closing seconds Ramirez hurt Nova with an overhand left.

In the fourth round Ramirez continued to pick Nova apart until the final seconds when Nova landed a flurry of punches but not enough to win the round.

In the fifth round with hands to his side walking forward Ramirez missed with a right hook but followed landing a straight left to the chin and down went Nova causing referee Fitch to immediately wave it off.

Super Feather Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, Jr., 4-0 (3), #127.4, of Brownsville Brooklyn, NY, stopped Adrian “El Tiburon” Leyva, 3-3-1 (1), #127.4, of Cuba and Houston, TX, after five rounds of a scheduled 6 rounds.

In the first two rounds both had their moments with Carrington taking both rounds. In the third round Carrington putting it all together overwhelming Leyva with chopping rights to the head causing Referee Sparkle Lee warning the corner of Leyva to show some offense or she will stop it.

In the fourth round the beating from Carrington continued. In the fifth rounds final seconds Leyva suffered a cut on his left eyebrow. As the sixth and final round was about to start referee Lee called in the ring physician who called the fight.

19 year-old Welterweight Jahi Tucker, 8-0 (5), #147.8, of Deer Park, NY, easily stopped D’Andre Smith, 11-2 (5), #147.6, of Atlanta, GA, at 2:27 of the fourth round of a scheduled 6 rounds.

In the first round both showed skills with the younger by eleven years Tucker having a slight edge. In the second round at the halfway point Tucker had Smith against the ropes landing over twenty unanswered punches with Referee Shawn Clark looking on closely but Smith weathered the storm. In the third round Tucker did everything but stop Smith.

In the fourth round an exhausted Smith from all the punches he absorbed from Tucker caused referee Clark to have seen enough as he called a halt.

Olympic Middleweight Troy “Transformer” Isley, 6-0 (4), #158.6, of Alexandria, VA, impressed in stopping Donte “Alexander the Great” Stubbs, 6-5 (2), #161.6, of Riverside, CA, at 0:38 of round six of a scheduled 6 rounds.

In the first three rounds Isley showed good skills going to the body with rights and outworking Stubbs who was missing with overhand lead rights more than landing them.

In the fourth rounds’ final seconds a jab and right from Isley on the chin and down went Stubbs taking an 8-count from Referee Charlie Fitch as the bell sounded. In the fifth round Stubbs was looking to survive and Isley having a big round. In the sixth and final round after thirty seconds a right from Isley ended it with both throwing rights at the same time and Isley’s getting there first and down he went as referee Charlie Fitch called it off immediately. Al Mitchell and Kay Korona worked the corner of Isley.

Super Welter Jahyae Brown, 11-0 (8), #153.2, of Schenectady, NY, won a close decision over Keane “The Iceman” McMahon, 7-3 (4), #152.6, of Dublin, IRE, over 6 rounds.

In the opening bout in the first two rounds they were close with the taller McMahon a six time All Irish amateur champion and Brown with a solid left hook each taking one. In the third Brown landed five right uppercuts to the chin of McMahon before he countered with a right to the chin. Brown’s round.

In the fifth round both knowing it is a six rounder are letting it go all out. The sixth round may decide the winner or a draw! In the sixth and final round McMahon landed a body shot after a minute hurting Brown. Both fighters were exhausted checking the clock. A left hook inside the final minute from McMahon on the chin rocked Brown.

Referee was Sparkle Lee.

Scores were 60-54, 58-56 twice with this writer 57-57. 60-54 judge should be suspended and sent to an ophthalmologist.

Super Bantamweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz, 5-0 (1), #121.6, of the Bronx, NY, defeated southpaw Daniil “Plata” Platonovschi, 4-1 (2), #122, of Moldova, and Brooklyn, NY, over 6 rounds.

In the first round Diaz coming in with a heavy heart knowing his grandfather passed away today. He did well until the final thirty seconds when the southpaw Platonovschi landed a right hook to the head getting his attention. In the second round Platonovschi landed an overhand right on the head causing Diaz to fall into him taking both to the canvas as Referee Sparkle Lee ruled it a “take down!”

In the third round Diaz seemed to pull it out in a close round against Platonovschi who had an extensive amateur career. Twenty seconds into the round Diaz almost put Platonovschi through the ropes with a flurry of punches causing referee Sparkle Lee to separate the fighters. It was another good round for Diaz. In the sixth and final round a lead right from Diaz on the chin of Platonovschi drove him back a step or two.

Scores 60-54 twice and 59-55 as did this writer have it.

Junior Middleweight Wendy “Haitian Fire” Toussaint, 14-1 (6), #152.2, of Haiti and Huntington, NY, defeated Asinia “DGhost” Byfield, 15-5-1 (7), #152.8, of Reading, UK, over 8 rounds.

In the first two rounds Toussaint had a solid one’s as Byfield bounced around switching from orthodox to southpaw and hands to his side. In the third round after thirty seconds a right uppercut from Byfield to the chin rocked the head of Toussaint back. By the end of the round Toussaint’s mouth was bleeding with Byfield taking the round.

In the fifth round Toussaint gave it up running without throwing much having Byfield in the last thirty seconds calling him in to fight. In the sixth round Toussaint’s mouth was open gasping for breath as he kept moving. In the final twenty seconds Byfield landed an effective combination to the chin taking another round.

In the seventh round Toussaint got a “second wind” having a solid round and a winning one. In the eighth and final round Toussaint used the old “stick and move” to take another round making the final decision up the judges and hope they get this one better than the first one. Referee was Shawn Clark.

Scores were 79-73 by all the judges and 77-75 by this writer.



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