The WBC announced on Wednesday that a light heavyweight unification fight between Russian Artur Beterbiev and American Joe Smith Jr. is in the plans for next September.
According to the WBC, the fight could take place on September 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs), who holds the WBC and IBF belts, stoppee Adam Deines in the 10th round of his last fight which took place in March.
Meanwhile, Smith Jr. (27-3, 21 KOs) has the WBO belt. He got the better of Maxim Vlasov by majority decision on his last outing in April.
“I want the big fights, I want to unify belts and I want to make the money.” Smith said.
“I feel that’s where the money is and that’s where the two belts are that I want, the next two, so that’s the fight I want.
“I’ve just got to be myself. Show up 100% and just stay busy and I believe I can pull it off. I think I have what it takes to beat Beterbiev.
“I have the power to match his and I believe I’m a little faster and my boxing abilities I believe are better.” Smith added.
Back in February, Top Rank boss Bob Arum confirmed that a fight between Beterbiev and Smith is being planed in for the fall and take place inside Madison Square Garden, in New York.
“You would sell out the Garden easy with a Smith-Beterbiev fight. That would be a great fight. They’re both big punchers, tough guys.” Arum said.
“It would be a fun fight. A Beterbiev fight with Smith would be a guarenteed sell out at Madison Square Garden. Joe has a lot of fans, 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.” Arum added.
