In a light heavyweight IBF, WBO and WBC championship bout, Artur Beterbiev (17-0) and Joe Smith Jr. (28-3) meet Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight begins at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze the Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr. odds and lines, with expert boxing picks and predictions.
Beterbiev is looking to pick up Smith’s WBO light heavyweight title to add to his WBC and IBF straps. He enters with knockout victories in each of his 17 career bouts. Beterbiev heads in with a 3-inch reach disadvantage, but don’t let that dissuade you from picking him to keep on keeping on.
Smith has cobbled together 4 straight victories, including a 9th-round KO against Steve Geffrard last time out. His last loss came in March 2019 against Dmitrii Bivol in a unanimous-decision setback at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Beterbiev -800 (bet $800 to win $100) | Smith Jr. +420 (bet $100 to win $420)
- Over/Under: 8.5 rounds (Over -125 | Under -110)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +240 | No -420)
[tipico]
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. picks and predictions
Records: Beterbiev (17-0-0, 17 KOs) | Joe Smith Jr. (28-3-0, 22 KOs)
Fight result (2-way line or money line)
Beterbiev (-800) is the overwhelming favorite, costing you 8 times your potential return. That’s too much for so little of a return, so let’s get specific.
Even taking Beterbiev by KO/TKO (-270) will cost more than 2 1/2 times your return, so that’s off. Instead, look to the Round Range Betting section to make some money.
BETERBIEV TO WIN IN ROUNDS 7-9 (+250) is the best play. Smith Jr. is a proud veteran, and he’ll give the champ all he can handle before eventually running out of gas,
Over/Under (O/U)
No (-420): Fight to go the distance is not worth playing, as the return is too small. Instead, UNDER 8.5 ROUNDS (-110) is a good play in conjunction with the Round Range bet above. I am liking Beterbiev for the KO in Rounds 7 or 8.
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