Bob Arum: Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. Would Sell Out MSG

Top Rank Boxing’s Bob Arum thinks a title unification clash between Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. would pack Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Beterbiev is considered by many to be the top light-heavyweight in boxing. He holds the WBC and IBF gold. Beterbiev is set to put his gold on the line against Adam Deines on March 20. Smith is looking to capture the WBO Light-Heavyweight title in his February 13 showdown with Maxim Vlasov.

During an interview with BoxingScene.com, Arum talked about the magnitude of Beterbiev vs. Smith if the bout can come to fruition.

“If Joe Smith wins and Beterbiev wins, that sets up a huge fight, maybe for Madison Square Garden. You’d sell out The Garden easy with a Smith-Beterbiev fight. That’d be a great fight. They’re both big punchers, tough guys. It’d be a fun fight.”

Arum went on to say that Smith has no easy task in Vlasov. With that said, he also reiterated just how big Beterbiev vs. Smith can become.

“Smith has another tough Russian in front of him, in Vlasov, next month. If he beats him, then a Beterbiev fight with Joe Smith would be a guaranteed sellout at Madison Square Garden. Joe has a lot of fans [from Long Island], and all these union people that support him. And there are a lot of Russian people in New York. And then, as the icing on the cake, you put Berlanga on the undercard.”

Smith vs. Vlasov will be airing live on the major ESPN network and on FIGHT SPORTS in over 30 countries worldwide. Join us on February 13 for live coverage of the event.