Artur Beterbiev is finally coming into his own, his name in lights at Madison Square Garden.
The defence of his WBA and IBF titles in the unification match with WBO champion Joe Smith Jnr at the boxing’s old Mecca is a measure of his growing star power. Smith Jnr is immensely likeable and steeped in New York’s boxing traditions, going from Golden Gloves winner to world champion.
He never thought he would be good enough to grace Madison Square Garden in world title fight. He is living out is own fairy tale of New York. Sadly I don’t see a happy ending. Beterbiev is the most explosive light heavyweight in the division, a pulverising puncher.
