Beterbiev vs Smith LIVE: Results as champion drops and stops Briton in round seven

Round 4

Mbilli with a sequence of teasing shots upstairs, making room for a big left hook to the body. Murdock taunts the Canadian, but he’s trapped against the ropes and not throwing back.

The super-middleweights trade body shots before Mbilli goes high this time. Murdock looks to get some respect with a flurry of his own.

Murdock’s mouthguard comes out after a hard right hook from Mbilli, and he motions for it, but Mbilli keeps working. Eventually the referee pauses the action to get the gumshield back in.

Round 3

Backstage, Beterbiev is doing some light running on a running machine, while Smith is skipping rope.

Out in the ring, Mbilli and Murdock trade more heavy hooks. Both take aim at the body, before Mbilling uncorks one upstairs.

Murdock is offering plenty, but he’s still being outworked by Mbilli so far.

Two clean left hooks land for Mbilli! Somehow, Murdock is still standing! He eats a right now, late in the round, and another!

Round 2

More stern jabs by Mbilli early in round two. Murdock responds with an uppercut at close range.

Grazing right hook by Mbilli, who then backs up Murdock to the ropes. Both men unload hooks to the body.

Murdock with a hook upstairs, which Mbilli absorbs well. Brutal body hook by Mbilli now.

Murdock shoves him away then eats a stinging jab. Mbilli with a hard right hook to the head, and another.

The super-middleweights get into a firefight against the ropes now, landing hooks and uppercuts to the head and body.

Round 1

Both men stand orthodox. Mbilli skips towards Murdock. Clean straight from the Australian.

Good uppercut from Mbilli in a frenzied exchange against the ropes. Slick jab by Mbilli, then Murdock fires back with a left hook to the body.

Decent cross by Mbilli, now a jab. More hooks to the body from Murdock.

Again Mbilli times a jab nicely, before sending Murdock stumbling to the canvas with a short right hook, but it’s no knockdown; the Canadian landed the shot illegally to the back of the head after a clinch.

Montreal’s Christian Mbilli gets a great reaction as he prepares to face Australia’s Rohan Murdock.

Here we go, 10 rounds (or fewer) at super-middleweight!

As we wait for the next bout, here’s a bit more from Steve Bunce...

“Beterbiev has a natural rival in Dmitry Bivol, the unbeaten WBA champion at light-heavyweight, and talk of their long overdue unification fight rumbles on. The pair won their titles in the same month, November, back in 2017; it is a disgrace that they have shared the titles and not met each other during such a long period of time.

“Bivol has managed 11 world-title fights in that time. Bivol and Beterbiev not fighting highlights the modern problems in the rich, rich world of boxing – how can two unbeaten champions fail to meet each other during a six-year shared reign? It is crazy.”

Eddie Hearn confirmed this week that Bivol and Beterbiev have signed to fight each other in Saudi Arabia this year, but Beterbiev must first overcome Smith to secure that bout...

Next up, 10 rounds are scheduled between Christian Mbilli and Rohan Murdock at super-middleweight.

After that? It should be time for Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith...

Compubox statistics have Sanchez landing more punches and with greater accuracy – though there’s not a lot in it.

And we’ll go to the judges’ scorecards...

Jason Moloney def. Saul Sanchez via majority decision (114-114, 116-112, 116-112).

Lots of boos in the arena! Sanchez looks dispirited. It was such a close fight, but Indy Sport felt that Sanchez began to pull away towards the end of the bout.

A brilliant fight, and Moloney will be so relieved to have heard “AND STILL” WBO bantamweight champion.

Round 12

This one really could go either way. Each man will feel like he needs this round, just in case; so many of the rounds have been razor close.

Good timing from Moloney to evade some wild shots from Sanchez and land some clean straights. The bantamweights hold each other and dig in with body shots.

They’re separated but soon clinch again. Once more they’re separated and begin to unload shots, as the crowd in Quebec City roars them on!

Sanchez seems to be standing purely by virtue of leaning on Moloney! OH! Yet somehow, he produces a blistering barrage as the bell approaches!

And it sounds. A war. Credit to both men.

Round 11

Into the championship rounds. Moloney looks to get out on the front foot.

Nice jab and hook from the champion, but he then walks onto a hard shot. A left hook just about lands for Sanchez now.

It’s impossible to keep up with every punch here, by the way, such is the volume of output from both men. Warriors.

They briefly clinch, as if to buy some time to breathe. Uppercut for Moloney, hook for Sanchez, who then pours on more shots.

Lots of straight punches on point for both men. Oh, Sanchez is stumbling badly... Yet still he’s able to compose himself and unleash a barrage at Moloney, who is doing the same – simultaneously!

We’re only two weeks into 2024, but this one feels like a fight of the year contender!