Artur Beterbiev breaks down Oleksandr Gvozdyk to earn a TKO in 10

The odds between Artur Beterbiev vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk were close going into their light heavyweight unification bout, but Beterbiev was the outlier.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, Artur Beterbiev and Oleksandr Gvozdyk met in a highly anticipated light heavyweight unification bout showcased on ESPN. Many thought Gvozdyk could be the first man to last against Beterbiev, but they were wrong.

Gvozdyk came out quick in round 1 to Beterbiev’s body. Beterbiev responded by going to Gvozdyk’s head. Gvozdyk moved a lot on the outside and utilized his jab to keep the stalking Beterbiev off him. Gvozdyk’s hands looked fasted than Beterbiev’s

Towards the end of the round, Gvozdyk was pushed to the ground by Beterbiev, but it was initially ruled a knockdown. It was a terrible call. On instant replay, Beterbiev threw Gvozdyk to the canvas. The Pennsylvania Athletic Commission used instant replay to overturn the call.

Beterbiev continued to struggle to land cleanly on Gvozdyk in round 2. Gvozdyk boxed well and maintained distance with his longer reach, but Beterbiev started to connect with his powerful right hand in the last 30 seconds.

After some encouraging words from Teddy Atlas, Gvozdyk came out of his corner to start the third with an accurate jab. Beterbiev kept his hands low, and Gvozdyk hit him with a clean right cross. Gvozdyk could have counterpunched, but he elected to let his hands go.

In round 4, Gvozdyk hammered away at Beterbiev and looked like he wanted to hurt him. Beterbiev looked lost at times and a step behind the faster Gvozdyk. Beterbiev hit Gvozdyk with a right to the body that briefly slowed his pace. He found the right to the body two more times before the bell.

Gvozdyk boxed well early in round 5, but Beterbiev’s right hand started to hit Gvozdyk to the head. Both men decreased their output, but Beterbiev’s right to the body returned. The distance closed, and Beterbiev might have stolen the round in the last 30 seconds.

Gvozdyk opened round 6 with a right to Beterbiev’s head, but Beterbiev countered with a right to the body that hurt Gvozdyk. Every time Gvozdyk got hit to the body, he looked like he was bothered by Beterbiev’s power.

Beterbiev never looked hurt by Gvozdyk. Gvozdyk finished the round well with right hands to Beterbiev’s head but fell to the ground after being pushed by Beterbiev.

Not much happened during the first half of the seventh round. It was up for grabs, but Beterbiev was more active down the stretch to win a slow round.

Gvozdyk tried to re-establish his jab in round 8, but Beterbiev kept up his body attack. They traded at center ring. Gvozdyk hit Beterbiev with an overhand right that was the signature punch of the round. Beterbiev laid off on the outside after that punch.

Beterbiev’s hands strayed low in round 9. It was a good round for Beterbiev, who closed the distance and connected on combinations to Gvozdyk’s body. Gvozdyk’s jab evaporated, which allowed Beterbiev to have his way with Gvozdyk. It was a one-sided round for Beterbiev, and Gvozdyk was is serious trouble.

Gvozdyk hit Beterbiev with a right hand to begin round 10, but Beterbiev returned the shot. Gvozdyk went down to the canvas, but it was ruled a slip. Gvozdyk looked haggard and held on to Beterbiev. He breathed heavily out of his mouth while Beterbiev looked calm.

Beterbiev hit Gvozdyk with a right hand that put Gvozdyk down. He got to his feet with a minute remaining but went down with a little more than 30 seconds left from another right. He got up but was put down for a third and final time. The referee saw enough and stopped the fight.

Beterbiev kept his record perfect and his 100 percent KO rating intact. He’s now the WBC and IBF light heavyweight champion and the king of the division. Sergey Kovalev has the WBO title for now but fights Canelo Alvarez on Nov. 2. Dmitry Bivol has the WBA belt, which he defended on Oct. 12.  We’ll see where Beterbiev goes from here.