New York banger Joe Smith Jr. could be one fight away from a three-belt shootout with monster puncher Artur Beterbiev if the duo navigate their next fights, according to venerable promoter Bob Arum.
On Saturday night, Smith, who holds significant wins over Bernard Hopkins, Eleider Alvarez, Jesse Hart and Andrzej Fonfara, seeks to clinch that elusive world crown when he meets Russian veteran Maxim Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs) for the vacant WBO light-heavyweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A month later, WBC/IBF champion Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) will have his first fight in 15 months against German challenger Adam Deines and Arum, promoter of both fights, has taken to social media to tease a possible three-belt unification between the 175lbs division’s two heaviest hitters.
“If Joe Smith Jr. is victorious Saturday night against Vlasov on ESPN, and if Artur Beterbiev successfully defends his unified crown against Adam Deines on March 20 – also on ESPN – we could see a ferocious, bombs away, 3-belt battle later in 2021,” tweeted Arum.
Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) has the tougher task on paper, with Vlasov a lively outsider at 11/4, but four since years his breakout KO victory against Hopkins the major fights are tantalisingly within reach for the former construction worker turned title contender. Vlasov stands in the way.
