IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev wears down and stops Oleksandr Gvozdyk, captures WBC belt

Relentless and powerful IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev wore down and stopped now former WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in round 10 at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA Friday night.

The time was 2:49.

Gvozdyk, taller and longer, popped his jab consistently in the opening round. Beterbiev, the possessor of a strong left himself, countered back. Gvozdyk moved to his left and right. He flashed combinations to the head and body. Gvozdyk continued to box effectively in round two.

The dangerous Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) stalked, landing a big right near the end of the stanza.

In round three, Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) connected with a few solid combinations and his own right hand. He skipped away. Beterbiev landed a thudding shot to the stomach. His bodywork would eventually change the course of the bout. Gvozdyk fought back in round four-taking the fight to Beterbiev. He worked up and down. The nonplussed Beterbiev followed - finally landed some solid shots to the belly.

The stronger Beterbiev teed up his right in rounds five and six. He connected with a few. Gvozdyk fired his jab, but two more solid right hands thudded off his ribcage. Beterbiev was fighting like a guy who already knew how the bout would end. Perhaps he did. He had stopped Gzozdyk in the amateurs 10 years ago. He walked through a combination without blinking. But seconds later, Gvozdyk buzzed Beterbiev with a solid shot to the chops. Gvozdyk connected with an uppercut in round seven. He fired a double jab. Beterbiev stopped Gvozdyk in his tracks with two left hooks to the gut and a pretty jab.

In rounds eight and nine, Beterbiev continued to land solid punches to the ribs. Gvozdyk connected with two right hands to the jaw, but he looked like a balloon losing air courtesy of Beterbiev’s bodyshots.

Both champions showed solid chins—as shots bounced off them. In the middle of round nine, Gvozdyk looked hurt. The relentless Beterbiev unloaded solid shots that had Gvozdyk staggering.

Beterbiev went searching for a knockout in round 10. He connected with a hard right to the chin. Gvozdyk fired back, but he looked ready to go. Beterbiev mauled him with shots-sending him to the canvas. The soon to be former champion was exhausted and badly hurt. Gvozdyk collapsed two more times, prompting the referee to wave off the fight.