ARTUR BETERBIEV will face British opposition for the second consecutive fight.
The light-heavyweight champion returns on August 19 to take on Liverpool’s Callum Smith at the Videotron Centre in Québec City.
Smith is looking to become a two-weight champion but to do so he will have to beat a man regarded as one of the deadliest fighters on the planet.
Beterbiev has fought 19 times and won every time with each opponent failing to hear the final bell. Anthony Yarde was the latest to fall at the hands of the Russian-born Canadian resident back in January. Another win for the champion will give him a 3-0 winning record against the Brits having beat Callum Johnson in 2018.
“Québec is my second home, so I’m very happy to finally defend my titles on home turf,” Beterbiev said.
“When you are world champion, everyone wants the opportunity to take your belt, and that’s especially true in my case, with three titles at stake. I’ve already started my training camp, and I’ll be ready to not only defend my belts, but to also put on an impressive show August 19.”
Callum Smith (Getty Images)
Smith 29-1 (21) moved up to 175lbs after losing to Canelo Alvarez on points in 2020. His two bouts at his new weight have been winning ones. However, Gilberto Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlique are nowhere near the quality of Beterbiev. Each were finished by the heavy-handed Smith in impressive fashion and the Liverpudlian is confident he can dethrone the king of the light-heavyweights.
“I’m excited to finally get my opportunity to become a two-weight world champion. I’m no stranger to fighting on away soil, having boxed in Saudi Arabia twice, across America, and now heading to Canada on August 19. There was no hesitation from me going to Canada to fight Artur Beterbiev, and I will be returning to Liverpool as a world champion once more.”