Wintrust Arena, Chicago - Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) was dropped for the second time in his career, but he knocked out previously undefeated Callum Johnson (17-1, 12 KOs) in the fourth round. (photos by Ed Mulholland).
This was Beterbiev's first bout in almost a year, since capturing the vacant IBF title by stopping Enrico Koelling in the twelfth round last November.
Johnson was in action in March, in what was his first bout since September 2016, and he stopped Frank Buglioni in one round.
They were feeling each other out, with Johnson pressing the action. Near the end of the round, Beterbiev caught Johnson with a solid shot and dropped him.
In the second, they were trading huge shots, with Johnson dropping Beterbiev on his back with a big left hook. Beterbiev got up on unsteady legs and made it out of trouble.
Johnson continued to press things in the third and they were trading heavy blows on the inside. A cut opened up around the right eye of Johnson. In the fourth, Johnson was pushing Beterbiev back and applying a lot of pressure. And in the final minute a grazing right hand sent Johnson down. He barely got to his feet in time, with the referee waving off the contest.
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