Getty Artur Beterbiev is the heavy favorite for his light-heavyweight unification fight vs. Joe Smith Jr.
WBO light-heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. will need to withstand perhaps the heaviest hitter in boxing when he meets Artur Beterbiev at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Beterbiev is the holder of both the WBC and IBF championship straps and is favored to unify all three titles thanks to his reputation as a knockout king. The 37-year-old has 17 straight KOs to his credit, but Smith Jr. is five years younger and has won his last four fights.
The main card (10 p.m. ET start time) will be televised on ESPN and will also stream live on ESPN+.
If you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of Beterbiev vs Smith Jr online:
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FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Fubo credentials to log in and watch.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ESPN is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to log in and watch.
ESPN+
In addition to being televised on ESPN, the main card (as well as the undercard, which isn’t on TV; 6:25 p.m. ET start time) will also stream live on ESPN+:
ESPN+ also includes dozens of live sports (including most Top Rank fights), every 30-for-30 documentary and additional original content (both video and written) for $6.99 per month (or $20.97 for a bundle of all three of ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu).
Once signed up for ESPN+, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the ESPN app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X/S, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, Oculus Go, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via ESPN.com.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 30-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” package. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest streaming service with ESPN, plus you can get $10 off your first month:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Sling credentials to log in and watch.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which doesn’t come with a free trial but now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 90+ other TV channels on Vidgo. This doesn’t include a free trial:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch Beterbiev vs Smith Jr live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Vidgo website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Vidgo credentials to log in and watch.
Beterbiev vs Smith Jr Preview
Despite Smith Jr.’s obvious pedigree, it’s hard to look past Beterbiev as the likely winner. The latter simply has more power at his disposal.
It’s why every member of SB Nation’s Bad left Hook has tipped Beterbiev to win the fight via technical knockout. Smith can prove the experts wrong if he lands the right shot, but one of those writers, Patrick Stumberg, believes Beterbiev is more durable than he’s given credit for: “He hit the deck after getting clipped by a solid slugger in Callum Johnson, sure, but he also handily withstood everything the division’s premier boxer-puncher at the time, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, could dish out one fight later.”
Beterbiev’s heavy hands and straight-ahead style make for a relentless combination that often batters opponents into submission, like when he won the IBF title from Enrico Koelling in 2017:
.@ABeterbiev left no doubt to earn his first Light Heavyweight strap 👑
#BeterbievSmith | 10PM ET on SAT | ESPN
Smith Jr. is no slouch when it comes to putting an opponent on the deck, having scored 22 knockouts of his own. He’s pledged to send Beterbiev to the mat if the opportunity is there, per Sky Sports: “I believe if I get Beterbiev in that position, I’ll get him out of there. I’m a good finisher. It’s not my gameplan but if it presents itself and it’s there, I’m going to do it.”
Smith’s ability to land a haymaker, along with Beterbiev’s tendency to leave himself open to at least one big shot every fight, has some believing an upset is possible. Among them, John Einreinhofer of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board thinks a Smith knockout is worth a punt for brave bettors:
Not going to predict it, but considering Beterbiev was legitimately dropped early by Jerry Page and Callum Johnson, that Smith can punch with both hands and Beterbiev’s age, take a look at the payouts on early Smith KO props.
One theme that is rare among the pre-fight predictions is the idea the bout will go the distance. Beterbiev has never had to rely on judges to settle one of his fights, but former flyweight and bantamweight titleholder Duke McKenzie went against the grain and told The Ring’s Anson Wainwright a split decision is the most likely outcome.
McKenzie still sees Beterbiev as the likely winner thanks to his all-round skills. Beterbiev will need to fight at close quarters to make those skills count. If Smith Jr. is drawn inside, he’ll be easy prey for Beterbiev’s array of damaging body shots and short hooks up top.
Smith Jr.’s best strategy will be to make his three-inch advantage in reach count and pick Beterbiev off from a distance. Frustrating the favorite can force the lapse in defenses Smith Jr. will need to give Beterbiev’s chin a true test.