Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr. fight week schedule, how to watch and running order
Fight Week: Light Heavyweight Champions Ready for NYC Title Unification Showdown
In three days, one man will hold three light heavyweight world titles. WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) will battle Long Island’s WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday evening, June 18, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The victor will be one step closer to attaining undisputed champion status.
Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian who now calls Canada home, is the only world champion in boxing with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He has been a world champion since 2017 and is widely regarded as the division’s top fighter. Smith, a one-time union laborer, cemented his “Rocky” story when he defeated Maxim Vlasov in April 2021 to win the WBO title. He defended that title in January with a ninth-round stoppage over Steve Geffrard.
Before fight night, catch up on the action behind the scenes with the two-part Blood, Sweat and Tears: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr.Part 1 & Part 2 are available to view on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe to Top Rank’s YouTube Channel for episodes of Top Rank Real Time, which gives fans a closer look at fight week festivities.
How to Watch
U.S: ESPN+; and for Latin America on ESPN KNOCKOUT and STAR + at 9pm ET / 8pm CT / 6pm PT
*Main event (approximately): 11pm ET / 10pm CT / 8pm PT
UK: Sky Sports from 2am-6am (Sunday morning)
Thursday, June 16
PRESS CONFERENCE
Featuring Beterbiev, Smith Jr., Robeisy Ramirez, Abraham Nova, and Bruce Carrington
1pm ET / 10am PT / 5pm GMT
Watch live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube/Twitter pages
Friday, June 17
Max on Boxing Live Weigh-In Show: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr.
4pm ET / 1pm PT / 8pm GMT
Live on ESPN2 and Top Rank’s YouTube / Twitter pages
Saturday, June 18
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr.
12×3 WBC/IBF/WBO Light Heavyweight World Titles
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Abraham Nova
10×3 Vacant USBA & WBO Global Featherweight Titles
Bruce Carrington vs. Adrian Leyva
6×3 featherweight
Jahi Tucker vs. D'Andre Smith
6×3 welterweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Daniil Platonovschi
6×3 junior featherweight
Troy Isley vs. Donte Stubbs
6×3 middleweight
Kieran Molloy vs. Jonathan Ryan Burrs
4×3 junior middleweight
Wendy Toussaint vs. Asinia Byfield
8×3 junior middleweight
Jahyae Brown vs. Keane McMahon
6×3 junior middleweight
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