Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. Odds: Joe Smith Jr. Given A 14% Chance to Upset Beterbiev

Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. Odds: Joe Smith Jr. Given A 14% Chance to Upset Beterbiev

When: June 18, 2022, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

Where: Madison Square Garden (Hulu Theater), New York, NY

The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden will play host on Saturday to a light-heavyweight title fight, as the WBC, IBF, and WBO belts will be on the line. For Artur Beterbiev, his elusive “0” will also be on the line as the 37-year-old Russian and Candian national has yet to lose a professional fight. His opponent, Joe Smith Jr., is an assassin in his own right, and despite being a heavy underdog, will look to shock the world in his home city of New York. 

Let’s take a closer look at both fighters and where the odds are headed for this one. 

Click Here for Beterbiev vs Smith Jr. Odds

Artur Beterbiev (17-0-0, 17 KOs)

Following winning a World Championships gold in 2009, Beterbiev turned professional in 2013, immediately winning the WBA-NABA light-heavyweight belt in 2014. Three years later and five wins later, he picked up the IBF light-heavyweight belt against Enrico Kolling via a 12th-round KO. 

In 2019, Beterbiev picked up the WBC light-heavyweight title to add to his collection, beating Oleksandr Gvozdyk via TKO in the 10th round. Having won the two fights since, most recently beating Marcus Brown in December, Beterbiev not only has a perfect record, but all have come via KO/TKO.

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Joe Smith Jr. (28-3-0, 22 KOs)

Standing in the way of 18-0 and a likely undisputed title fight against WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is Long Island native Joe Smith Jr. Making his professional debut in 2009, Smith Jr. also established himself early on as a KO specialist, picking up 11 straight wins all via KO. 

After losing to Eddie Caminero in 2010 for his first loss, Smith rattled off 17 straight victories, 12 of which also came via KO/TKO including a 2016 TKO of Bernard Hopkins; Hopkins' final professional fight. With his last loss coming against Bivol (via UD in March 2019), a win here for Smith Jr. would set up a coveted rematch he’s long sought. It’s also worth noting that since that loss to Bivol, Smith Jr. has rattled off four straight wins, including picking up and retaining the WBO light heavyweight belt. 

Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr. Odds

When these odds opened up over the spring, Beterbiev was opened as a massive -1100 favorite with Smith Jr. listed as a +600 underdog. Since then, however, we have seen some buyback, as Beterbiev’s odds have come back down to earth. As of Wednesday, those still looking to back the favorite would be best suited to head to DraftKings (-750), while underdog backers should head to FanDuel (+600).

Click here to see the latest betting odds for Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr.

How To Bet On Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr.

Now that you have the low down on Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. at Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden, let’s take a closer look at the best promos for you to get in on the action.