Via Brian Webber: Teddy Atlas expects Saturday’s lightweight unification fight between IBF/WBC champion Artur Beterbiev and WBO champion Joe Smith Jr to be like a “monster” truck battle between these two big boxers at Madison. Square Garden, New York.
Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) and Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) will be shown on ESPN and ESPN+ in a match that is the highlight of this weekend.
It’s by far the hottest on paper for this Saturday’s fight and we’ll see if it fits the bill. It’s not as heavily promoted as some of the fights we’ve seen this year, but it will be well worth it for fans to see these two monster punchers.
Beterbiev has the advantage of experience in terms of his amateur background, but blue shirt boxer Smith Jr has learned on the job, gradually improving with each match since turning pro in 2009.
“They are monsters. They don’t pretend about it, they’re not handsome,” said Teddy Atlas on his podcast about Saturday’s unification match between Artur Betterbiev and Joe Smith Jr.
“These are guys, and they’re not stupid either. Technically, they are very sturdy. Joe Smith has grown, he’s gotten better, he’s improved. There is more room for Smith to continue to improve because he has no background knowledge, experience, amateur experience.
“Beterbiev had 300 fights, 400 fights or whatever. I think he won the world championship in the amateur world. Once you have such experience, there is no room to keep getting better in certain areas.
“For Smith, there is a lot of room to get better and he has gotten better. He was as tough as a nail like Beterbiev, physically strong like Beterbiev. He’s a good puncher, solid with both hands just like Beterbiev.
“It’s going to be a monster combo, like you’re riding in monster trucks. You wouldn’t look at Ferraris and Porsches that can run 200 mph.
“If you’re watching this fight, you’re a fan of monster trucks, and you won’t be disappointed. These guys don’t know how to do anything else. They will go and check each other from head to toe,” Atlas said of Beterbiev and Smith Jr.
“They will test who can get to the darkest corners on their own, survive and still find a way and still rise to the top. That’s what this is. That’s what these people will do.
“Yes, they will be as smart as they can be about it, as technical as they can be about it, and try as hard as they can about it, but you are who you are.
“It must have been a hell battle. Punching the body, applying pressure, aggression. Obviously both guys, I wouldn’t be surprised if they visited the injury locker before the show was over.
“It probably depends on who has the nicer chin, is a little smarter at the right time from a technical standpoint, and maybe who uses their jab better,” says Atlas.
