Artur Beterbiev battles through cut, knocks out Marcos Browne

Artur Beterbiev battled plenty of adversity this week. A potential fight cancellation with growing COVID-19 cases in the area, as well as a fight potentially without fans, Beterbiev still managed to extend his perfect knockout streak to 17 in 17 bouts, stopping challenger Marcus Browne in round 9 in Montreal.

Browne started well, boxing from the outside and keeping the powerful Chechen-Canadian fighter at bay. Things further went in Browne’s favor after a headbutt in round 4 caused a significant gash on Beterbiev, similar to the one Badou Jack suffered when he fought Browne.

Beterbiev, a fighter known for his actions instead of words, sensed the urgency and opened a cut on Browne before the round was over.

Round 5 started with both boxers getting their respective cuts checked from the doctor to start the round. From then on, it was your usual Beterbiev bout, as he increased pressure and hurt Browne at the end of round 6.

Beterbiev scored the first knockdown of the bout in round seven, courtesy of a hook to the body and a right hand.

Browne stood up and weathered the storm for the rest of the round. Beterbiev seemed to take most of round 8 off, gathering himself for the inevitable onslaught to come.

A left-right put Browne in the corner before a liver shot put him down for a second time in round 9. This time though, he watched as Michael Griffin counted to 10, signaling the end to the fight at:46 seconds into the 9th round.

Beterbiev maintained that Browne intentionally headbutted him. Was he 100 percent sure?

"No 1000 percent," said Beterbiev. "He kept doing it over and over."

The media was told that the cut was so deep that an entire cupip went inside the gash.

After a much-needed rest, Beterbiev looks forward to a unification bout or even a mega-fight with pound-for-pound king ’Canelo’ Alvarez.

"Bivol, Smith, yes."

However, the focus isn’t just on titles for Beterbiev. Humility and hard work are who he is.

"I want to be a better boxer. Right now, I’m not bad".

Not bad indeed.