Tag: Marcus Browne

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlights week of KOs

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlighted a week of knockouts in boxing.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

You like savage knockouts? You got ’em this past week.

Jake Paul served up a one-punch, highlight-reel knockout of rival Tyron Woodley while Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev and Gilberto Ramirez beat the daylights out of their unfortunate opponents until they could take no more punishment.

First up was Inoue, who unleashed his pound-for-pound fury on poor Aran Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) on Tuesday in Japan. The Thai fighter was brave but didn’t have the tools to fend off Inoue, who coldly broke him down before stopping him in the eighth round.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) needs a challenge comparable to his fight with Nonito Donaire, which means a showdown with fellow titleholder John Riel Casimero or a rematch with Donaire.

The imposing Beterbiev looked vulnerable early against capable Marcus Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) on Friday but settled into beast mode and methodically destroyed the former U.S. Olympian in spite of a ghastly cut on his forehead, finally ending matters in nine rounds to make it 17 knockouts in 17 fights.

The Russian probably will target one of his fellow 175-pound titleholders but a lot of us fancy a showdown with Canelo Alvarez. Could the Mexican star really handle a fighter of Beterbiev’s ability and freakish strength? Hopefully we’ll get a chance to find out.

Ramirez (43-0, 29 KOs) had a tough time against a durable Yunieski Gonzalez (21-4, 17 KOs), absorbing many hard shots, but he still managed to deliver a horrible beating. We knew the Mexican was good but who knew he was this resilient?

I give him a chance a realistic chance to beat the light heavyweight titleholders.

And, on Saturday, Paul gave us the most-dramatic single moment of the week, an enormous right hand that planted rival Tyron Woodley (0-2) on his face. He didn’t get up, which gave Paul the most significant victory yet in his young career.

Is Paul (6-0, 5 KOs) ready for a real boxer? Nah. But he always makes it difficult to look away.

 

BAD

I’ll never fully endorse Paul’s career as a prize fighter out of deference to genuine boxers who would kill for even a fraction of the YouTuber’s fame and fortune.

At the same time, you have to give the guy credit. His impressive ability to market himself is well established. He seems to take the sport seriously, working as hard as anyone in the gym in an effort to hone his skills. And he has a flair for the dramatic.

If you could’ve drawn it up beforehand, what would’ve been the ideal result to add to Paul’s reputation as a can’t-miss attraction? You got it – a sensational one-punch knockout that goes viral on the internet.

The ringside video that allows the viewer to both see and hear the right hand that ended Woodley’s night (see video above) is not something people will forget any time soon. As a result, they will be more intrigued with Paul than ever.

The fact he remains in early stages of development doesn’t matter to most people. He does (and says) things that people want to see, which is the key to his success.

I have to add one thing: Paul is going to lose a fight, probably soon. He almost lost to Woodley in their first fight. We’ll see what impact that has on his drawing power, although I have a feeling he’ll stick in one way or another.

 

WORSE

Once again, there are always poor souls on the wrong end of brutal knockouts.

I’ll never forget the look of resignation on Dipaen’s face after he went down from a left hook by Inoue and then managed to get up as the referee was counting in Round 8. It was if he was thinking, “What did I do to deserve this?”

He took one more punch and the fight was stopped, fortunately for Dipaen, who might never again fight on a stage that big.

Browne was so distraught after his one-sided setback that he barely acknowledged Beterbiev afterward even though the winner approached him twice. It wasn’t poor sportsmanship as much as it was disappointment. He simply wasn’t ready to face his conqueror.

Browne isn’t in Beterbiev’s class but he has a lot of company.

Gonzalez left his heart in the ring against Ramirez, which I believe is one reason he was so emotional after his fight. And at 36 he probably realized then and there that he might not get another such opportunity.

The native of Cuba suffered during the fight … and after it.

Woodley probably will have emerged from his gruesome fate with a smile on his face. The former MMA star made a reported $2 million even though he’s 39 and was fighting as a pro boxer for only the second time.

That’s called winning the lottery, although getting knocked out cold was a significant price to pay for his windfall.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) defeated Derek Chisora (32-12, 23 KOs) again – this time by a unanimous decision – to underscore his position as a top heavyweight contender Saturday in Manchester, England. It wasn’t easy. The Kiwi put Chisora down three times and seemed to be on the verge of putting him away on several occasions but he couldn’t finish off his stubborn opponent in an entertaining fight. The problem now for Parker is that it could be a while before he gets a shot at a title, as beltholders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have other plans. Of course, Parker, only 29, will get his opportunity if he keeps winning. Chisora? The Londoner is 37. He has now lost three consecutive fights, to Usyk and twice to Parker. And he has taken a lot of punishment over a long career. He’s probably good enough to continue fighting. However, it might be a good time for him to step away. … This is what I have to say about the Frank Gore (NFL) vs. Deron Williams (NBA) exhibition on the Paul-Woodley II card: If you like to watch street or bar fights between two old guys who have no idea what they’re doing, God bless you. Only you can choose what entertains you. …

Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) did what she was expected to do on the Paul-Woodley II card, easily defeating Miriam Gutierrez (14-2, 5 KOs). The Spaniard took Serrano the distance but lost a near-shutout decision. The victory sets up arguably the biggest possible fight in women’s boxing: Serrano vs. Katie Taylor for the Irishwoman’s undisputed lightweight championship. The fight would be a boon to the women’s side of the sport. And the winner would be a legend. … David Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) looked like a bona fide super middleweight contender on Saturday, when he stopped a solid opponent in Alantez Fox in four rounds. I figured the 23-year-old Cuban would win the fight but he dominated, using effective aggression to quickly break down and then stop his overmatched opponent. Morrell probably is ready for a Top 5 168-pounder.

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Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlights week of KOs

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlighted a week of knockouts in boxing.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

You like savage knockouts? You got ’em this past week.

Jake Paul served up a one-punch, highlight-reel knockout of rival Tyron Woodley while Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev and Gilberto Ramirez beat the daylights out of their unfortunate opponents until they could take no more punishment.

First up was Inoue, who unleashed his pound-for-pound fury on poor Aran Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) on Tuesday in Japan. The Thai fighter was brave but didn’t have the tools to fend off Inoue, who coldly broke him down before stopping him in the eighth round.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) needs a challenge comparable to his fight with Nonito Donaire, which means a showdown with fellow titleholder John Riel Casimero or a rematch with Donaire.

The imposing Beterbiev looked vulnerable early against capable Marcus Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) on Friday but settled into beast mode and methodically destroyed the former U.S. Olympian in spite of a ghastly cut on his forehead, finally ending matters in nine rounds to make it 17 knockouts in 17 fights.

The Russian probably will target one of his fellow 175-pound titleholders but a lot of us fancy a showdown with Canelo Alvarez. Could the Mexican star really handle a fighter of Beterbiev’s ability and freakish strength? Hopefully we’ll get a chance to find out.

Ramirez (43-0, 29 KOs) had a tough time against a durable Yunieski Gonzalez (21-4, 17 KOs), absorbing many hard shots, but he still managed to deliver a horrible beating. We knew the Mexican was good but who knew he was this resilient?

I give him a chance a realistic chance to beat the light heavyweight titleholders.

And, on Saturday, Paul gave us the most-dramatic single moment of the week, an enormous right hand that planted rival Tyron Woodley (0-2) on his face. He didn’t get up, which gave Paul the most significant victory yet in his young career.

Is Paul (6-0, 5 KOs) ready for a real boxer? Nah. But he always makes it difficult to look away.

 

BAD

I’ll never fully endorse Paul’s career as a prize fighter out of deference to genuine boxers who would kill for even a fraction of the YouTuber’s fame and fortune.

At the same time, you have to give the guy credit. His impressive ability to market himself is well established. He seems to take the sport seriously, working as hard as anyone in the gym in an effort to hone his skills. And he has a flair for the dramatic.

If you could’ve drawn it up beforehand, what would’ve been the ideal result to add to Paul’s reputation as a can’t-miss attraction? You got it – a sensational one-punch knockout that goes viral on the internet.

The ringside video that allows the viewer to both see and hear the right hand that ended Woodley’s night (see video above) is not something people will forget any time soon. As a result, they will be more intrigued with Paul than ever.

The fact he remains in early stages of development doesn’t matter to most people. He does (and says) things that people want to see, which is the key to his success.

I have to add one thing: Paul is going to lose a fight, probably soon. He almost lost to Woodley in their first fight. We’ll see what impact that has on his drawing power, although I have a feeling he’ll stick in one way or another.

 

WORSE

Once again, there are always poor souls on the wrong end of brutal knockouts.

I’ll never forget the look of resignation on Dipaen’s face after he went down from a left hook by Inoue and then managed to get up as the referee was counting in Round 8. It was if he was thinking, “What did I do to deserve this?”

He took one more punch and the fight was stopped, fortunately for Dipaen, who might never again fight on a stage that big.

Browne was so distraught after his one-sided setback that he barely acknowledged Beterbiev afterward even though the winner approached him twice. It wasn’t poor sportsmanship as much as it was disappointment. He simply wasn’t ready to face his conqueror.

Browne isn’t in Beterbiev’s class but he has a lot of company.

Gonzalez left his heart in the ring against Ramirez, which I believe is one reason he was so emotional after his fight. And at 36 he probably realized then and there that he might not get another such opportunity.

The native of Cuba suffered during the fight … and after it.

Woodley probably will have emerged from his gruesome fate with a smile on his face. The former MMA star made a reported $2 million even though he’s 39 and was fighting as a pro boxer for only the second time.

That’s called winning the lottery, although getting knocked out cold was a significant price to pay for his windfall.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) defeated Derek Chisora (32-12, 23 KOs) again – this time by a unanimous decision – to underscore his position as a top heavyweight contender Saturday in Manchester, England. It wasn’t easy. The Kiwi put Chisora down three times and seemed to be on the verge of putting him away on several occasions but he couldn’t finish off his stubborn opponent in an entertaining fight. The problem now for Parker is that it could be a while before he gets a shot at a title, as beltholders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have other plans. Of course, Parker, only 29, will get his opportunity if he keeps winning. Chisora? The Londoner is 37. He has now lost three consecutive fights, to Usyk and twice to Parker. And he has taken a lot of punishment over a long career. He’s probably good enough to continue fighting. However, it might be a good time for him to step away. … This is what I have to say about the Frank Gore (NFL) vs. Deron Williams (NBA) exhibition on the Paul-Woodley II card: If you like to watch street or bar fights between two old guys who have no idea what they’re doing, God bless you. Only you can choose what entertains you. …

Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) did what she was expected to do on the Paul-Woodley II card, easily defeating Miriam Gutierrez (14-2, 5 KOs). The Spaniard took Serrano the distance but lost a near-shutout decision. The victory sets up arguably the biggest possible fight in women’s boxing: Serrano vs. Katie Taylor for the Irishwoman’s undisputed lightweight championship. The fight would be a boon to the women’s side of the sport. And the winner would be a legend. … David Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) looked like a bona fide super middleweight contender on Saturday, when he stopped a solid opponent in Alantez Fox in four rounds. I figured the 23-year-old Cuban would win the fight but he dominated, using effective aggression to quickly break down and then stop his overmatched opponent. Morrell probably is ready for a Top 5 168-pounder.

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Watch it: Artur Beterbiev’s vicious ninth-round knockout of Marcus Browne

Watch it: Artur Beterbiev’s vicious ninth-round knockout of Marcus Browne.

Artur Beterbiev kept his knockout streak alive on Friday in Montreal, putting Marcus Browne down twice and stopping him in Round 9.

The light heavyweight titleholder has now stopped all 17 of his opponents.

Check out the stoppage.

Watch it: Artur Beterbiev’s vicious ninth-round knockout of Marcus Browne

Watch it: Artur Beterbiev’s vicious ninth-round knockout of Marcus Browne.

Artur Beterbiev kept his knockout streak alive on Friday in Montreal, putting Marcus Browne down twice and stopping him in Round 9.

The light heavyweight titleholder has now stopped all 17 of his opponents.

Check out the stoppage.

Artur Beterbiev fights through gruesome cut to keep KO streak alive

Artur Beterbiev fought through a gruesome cut to stop Marcus Browne on Friday in Montreal, the Russian’s 17th KO in as many fights.

Not even a hole in Artur Beterbiev’s head could slow him down.

The light heavyweight champion, fighting with a horrible gash in his forehead from the fourth round on, beat up, broke down and finally stopped Marcus Browne in the ninth round Friday in Montreal.

That makes 17 knockouts in as many fights for the physically imposing Russian, who was making his fifth title defense.

Beterbiev got off to a typically slow start, as the quick, skillful Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) jabbed consistently, landed a few power shots and used his feet to stay out of trouble the first few rounds of the fight.

However, the WBC and IBF titleholder closed the distance by the third round, during which he began to land accurate, damaging punches – to both the head and body – and Browne’s motor started to stall.

A clash of heads in Round 4 opened up cuts on the foreheads of both fighters but Beterbiev got the much worse of the deal, as blood gushed from his deep cut from the time the accidental butt occurred.

A doctor who examined both fighters before the start of Round 5 gave Beterbiev “one more round,” but for whatever reason the fight was allowed to continue.

And that was unfortunate for Browne, who took more and more punishing blows as the fight progressed. He took a knee as the result of a left hook to the body midway through Round 7 but survived.

Browne did a little better in Round 8, when Beterbiev might’ve been catching his breath. Then, at the start of Round 9, Beterbiev poured on the pressure. He backed Browne against the ropes and unloaded a vicious flurry, punctuated by another left hook to the body, that forced Browne to take a knee again.

This time, clearly a beaten man, he stayed there. The official time of the stoppage was 46 seconds of Round 9.

“This one was another experience in my career,” said Beterbiev, pointing to his cut. “… It’s boxing. You don’t know what happens in boxing. I’m happy to win.”

Artur ABeterbiev celebrates his 17th knockout in as many fights. Bernard Brault / GYM

Beterbiev is 35, meaning whatever he plans to do going forward he might want to do it quickly.

He has good options. He could target fellow titleholders Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith Jr. (WBO). And he has been mentioned as a potential foe for undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, against whom Beterbiev would make a fortune.

Would Alvarez really consider tangling the man who just destroyed a good, strapping light heavyweight in Browne? Stay tuned.

“We will see,” Beterbiev said. “I’m ready for any fight. I’m looking for the best. To be the best you need to beat the best.”

Artur Beterbiev fights through gruesome cut to keep KO streak alive

Artur Beterbiev fought through a gruesome cut to stop Marcus Browne on Friday in Montreal, the Russian’s 17th KO in as many fights.

Not even a hole in Artur Beterbiev’s head could slow him down.

The light heavyweight champion, fighting with a horrible gash in his forehead from the fourth round on, beat up, broke down and finally stopped Marcus Browne in the ninth round Friday in Montreal.

That makes 17 knockouts in as many fights for the physically imposing Russian, who was making his fifth title defense.

Beterbiev got off to a typically slow start, as the quick, skillful Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) jabbed consistently, landed a few power shots and used his feet to stay out of trouble the first few rounds of the fight.

However, the WBC and IBF titleholder closed the distance by the third round, during which he began to land accurate, damaging punches – to both the head and body – and Browne’s motor started to stall.

A clash of heads in Round 4 opened up cuts on the foreheads of both fighters but Beterbiev got the much worse of the deal, as blood gushed from his deep cut from the time the accidental butt occurred.

A doctor who examined both fighters before the start of Round 5 gave Beterbiev “one more round,” but for whatever reason the fight was allowed to continue.

And that was unfortunate for Browne, who took more and more punishing blows as the fight progressed. He took a knee as the result of a left hook to the body midway through Round 7 but survived.

Browne did a little better in Round 8, when Beterbiev might’ve been catching his breath. Then, at the start of Round 9, Beterbiev poured on the pressure. He backed Browne against the ropes and unloaded a vicious flurry, punctuated by another left hook to the body, that forced Browne to take a knee again.

This time, clearly a beaten man, he stayed there. The official time of the stoppage was 46 seconds of Round 9.

“This one was another experience in my career,” said Beterbiev, pointing to his cut. “… It’s boxing. You don’t know what happens in boxing. I’m happy to win.”

Artur ABeterbiev celebrates his 17th knockout in as many fights. Bernard Brault / GYM

Beterbiev is 35, meaning whatever he plans to do going forward he might want to do it quickly.

He has good options. He could target fellow titleholders Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith Jr. (WBO). And he has been mentioned as a potential foe for undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, against whom Beterbiev would make a fortune.

Would Alvarez really consider tangling the man who just destroyed a good, strapping light heavyweight in Browne? Stay tuned.

“We will see,” Beterbiev said. “I’m ready for any fight. I’m looking for the best. To be the best you need to beat the best.”

Can Artur Beterbiev keep knockout streak going against Marcus Browne?

Can Artur Beterbiev keep knockout streak going against Marcus Browne on Friday?

Another fight, another knockout?

That’s what fans have come to expect from Artur Beterbiev, the light heavyweight titleholder how has stopped all 16 of his opponents. We could see No. 17 on Friday in his adopted hometown of Montreal, where he’ll face Marcus Browne.

Beterbiev isn’t a one-punch knockout artist, although he has some quick KOs on resume. The two-time Olympian uses intelligent, but relentless pressure to break down his opponents before ultimately stopping them.

That’s what he did in his biggest victory, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Oleksandr Gvozdyk to unify two titles in October 2019.

He followed that with another 10th round stoppage this past March over Adam Deines, a fight that was delayed after Beterbiev contracted the coronavirus. The fight on Friday will be his first fight since.

Few are eager to tangle with the 36-year-old Russian, as Browne (24-1, 16 KOs) acknowledges.

“Beterbiev is the most avoided champion out there,” Browne said. “He’s a great fighter, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and is super strong. But I’m the better fighter and I’m here to show that come December 17.

“So, to my fans, know that I’m back and I’m here to stay. No controversial losses, no distractions, just straight work.”

Browne is no slouch. The 31-year-old American also was an Olympian, in 2012, meaning he is skillful. And while he doesn’t have the power of Beterbiev, he has heavy hands.

And he seems to be peaking. He had his break through victory in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing unanimous decision. He followed that with a technical-decision loss in a close fight against Jean Pascal, the result of cut over Browne’s left eye, but bounced back to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

Beterbiev could end up taking on fellow 175-titleholders Dmitry Bivol or Joe Smith Jr. And he has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Canelo Alvarez, against whom he’d earn a career-high payday.

However, he says his focus is on Friday night.

““It’s a good fight and good challenge for me,” Beterbiev RingTV.com. “He’s a very good boxer; good technically, good counter-puncher and very fast.”

He added, referring to potential showdowns with Bivol, Smith or Alvarez: ““I cannot think about this right now. Browne deserves all my attention and I will take care of other fighters later.”

If he wins.

“This is the moment in my life that I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready to take advantage of it,” Browne said. “I know exactly what I have to do to take the titles from Beterbiev and that’s what I’m going to do.

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Can Artur Beterbiev keep knockout streak going against Marcus Browne?

Can Artur Beterbiev keep knockout streak going against Marcus Browne on Friday?

Another fight, another knockout?

That’s what fans have come to expect from Artur Beterbiev, the light heavyweight titleholder how has stopped all 16 of his opponents. We could see No. 17 on Friday in his adopted hometown of Montreal, where he’ll face Marcus Browne.

Beterbiev isn’t a one-punch knockout artist, although he has some quick KOs on resume. The two-time Olympian uses intelligent, but relentless pressure to break down his opponents before ultimately stopping them.

That’s what he did in his biggest victory, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Oleksandr Gvozdyk to unify two titles in October 2019.

He followed that with another 10th round stoppage this past March over Adam Deines, a fight that was delayed after Beterbiev contracted the coronavirus. The fight on Friday will be his first fight since.

Few are eager to tangle with the 36-year-old Russian, as Browne (24-1, 16 KOs) acknowledges.

“Beterbiev is the most avoided champion out there,” Browne said. “He’s a great fighter, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and is super strong. But I’m the better fighter and I’m here to show that come December 17.

“So, to my fans, know that I’m back and I’m here to stay. No controversial losses, no distractions, just straight work.”

Browne is no slouch. The 31-year-old American also was an Olympian, in 2012, meaning he is skillful. And while he doesn’t have the power of Beterbiev, he has heavy hands.

And he seems to be peaking. He had his break through victory in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing unanimous decision. He followed that with a technical-decision loss in a close fight against Jean Pascal, the result of cut over Browne’s left eye, but bounced back to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

Beterbiev could end up taking on fellow 175-titleholders Dmitry Bivol or Joe Smith Jr. And he has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Canelo Alvarez, against whom he’d earn a career-high payday.

However, he says his focus is on Friday night.

““It’s a good fight and good challenge for me,” Beterbiev RingTV.com. “He’s a very good boxer; good technically, good counter-puncher and very fast.”

He added, referring to potential showdowns with Bivol, Smith or Alvarez: ““I cannot think about this right now. Browne deserves all my attention and I will take care of other fighters later.”

If he wins.

“This is the moment in my life that I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready to take advantage of it,” Browne said. “I know exactly what I have to do to take the titles from Beterbiev and that’s what I’m going to do.

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Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne: date, time, how to watch, background

Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne: date, time, how to watch, background.

Artur Beterbiev will go for his 17th knockout in as many fights against marcus browne on friday.

Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Marcos Browne (24-1, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Friday, Dec. 17
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Cost: $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year
  • Division: Light heavyweight
  • At stake: Beterbiev’s IBF and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Beterbiev No. 12
  • Odds: Beterbiev 8½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title); Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Beterbiev KO 10
  • Background: Will Beterbiev make it 17 in a row? The imposing 36-year-old Russian is coming off a 10th-round knockout of Adam Deines this past March, his 16th stoppage in as many fights. That victory followed the most-significant triumph of his career, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Olekesandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Beterbiev has been mentioned as a possible opponent for super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He also could go after another 175-pound titleholder if he gets past Browne. Dmitry Bivol is the WBA belterholder. WBO champ Joe Smith Jr. defends against Callum Smith next month. Browne is no pushover. The 2012 U.S. Olympian from New Jersey is a polished boxer with good power. He had a break through in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing decision. He lost an eight-round technical decision to Jean Pascal in his subsequent fight, the result of a cut above Browne’s eye that was caused by an accidental head butt. He rebounded to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

[lawrence-related id=18769]

Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne: date, time, how to watch, background

Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne: date, time, how to watch, background.

Artur Beterbiev will go for his 17th knockout in as many fights against marcus browne on friday.

Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Marcos Browne (24-1, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Friday, Dec. 17
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Cost: $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year
  • Division: Light heavyweight
  • At stake: Beterbiev’s IBF and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Beterbiev No. 12
  • Odds: Beterbiev 8½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title); Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Beterbiev KO 10
  • Background: Will Beterbiev make it 17 in a row? The imposing 36-year-old Russian is coming off a 10th-round knockout of Adam Deines this past March, his 16th stoppage in as many fights. That victory followed the most-significant triumph of his career, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Olekesandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Beterbiev has been mentioned as a possible opponent for super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He also could go after another 175-pound titleholder if he gets past Browne. Dmitry Bivol is the WBA belterholder. WBO champ Joe Smith Jr. defends against Callum Smith next month. Browne is no pushover. The 2012 U.S. Olympian from New Jersey is a polished boxer with good power. He had a break through in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing decision. He lost an eight-round technical decision to Jean Pascal in his subsequent fight, the result of a cut above Browne’s eye that was caused by an accidental head butt. He rebounded to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

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