Beterbiev elimination bout cancelled after fighter refused U.S. visa

[Ruthless-RKO]

Montreal-based boxer Artur Beterbiev was refused a visa to fight in the United States, forcing the cancellation of his scheduled title-elimination match with German Enrico Koelling, promoter Yvon Michel announced Wednesday.

Beterbiev (11-0), a native of Khasavyurt, Russia, who moved to Montreal in 2013, was scheduled to fight Koelling (23-1) on July 29 in New York to determine the mandatory challenger for Andre Ward’s International Boxing Federation light heavyweight title.

Michel did not say why the visa was refused, but it was likely due to tighter travel restrictions in place this year. Beterbiev, a Muslim from the Dagestan region of Russia, had no problem entering the U.S. for his 2015 victory in Chicago over Alexander Johnson.

The promoter said he was informed June 21 that the visa was refused. An appeal was also turned down.

A decision to scrap the bout was made jointly by Michel, Koelling’s promoter Chris Mayer, promoter Leon Margules and the IBF, which is expected to hold a purse bid to see if a new date and venue for the bout can be arranged.

Beterbiev, a 2009 amateur world champion, has stopped all of his opponents before the distance. The 32-year-old is rated fourth in the world among light heavyweight contenders by The Ring magazine.

[boxing_rocks]

That sucks.

[Kalan]

That's Donald Trump and his Trumpets... If it were up to Trump no Muslims would get into the US at any time.

[Jaywheel]

It's Michel and GYM Group making him pay for the lawsuit/breach of contract.

[Jip]

There are so many boxing fans in canada. Toronto is a great city for boxing events. Berts promoter suck. They need to find him a good opponent and make the fight happen in toronto or montreal! Not some german guy nobody has ever heard about

[crusader]

Bert's lost some steam

[Kalan]

Al haymon has Beterbiev on the shelf... I think deliberately... If not they could shift the venue of the fight to Canada -- Ali-Liston II had a lot of homes and eventually it ended up in Lewiston Main... Beterbiev is a guy with all the potential in the world and his career is getting crushed like a grape.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Michel and GYM Group should just add him to an upcoming card in Canada, have him headline it.. I just checked. I don't think they have any upcoming shows at the moment..

[asdfjkl]

Sad to see the very rare succesfull muslims being doomed thanks to other muslims their behaviour, but it's indeed the safest thing to do so. It's a good thing that some countries still have the safety of their citizens above entertainment.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Back in May, Artur Beterbiev signed a contract to face Germany's Enrico Koelling in an IBF final eliminator, with July 29 in Quebec City as the working date and location.

During that period of time, Beterbiev filed documents with the court to break his promotional agreement with Yvon Michel of GYM.

Beterbiev confirmed that the fight with Koelling has now fallen through due to his legal battle with GYM.

"It is with great regret that I learned today that GYM has decided to cancel my fight against Enrico Koelling, notwithstanding repeated assurances that the fight would take place. This news comes right in the middle of my training camp and it is very upsetting. This is made worse by the grossly misleading report coming from GYM that the fight was cancelled because I could not get a visa to fight in the United States," Beterbiev stated.

"The truth is that GYM refused to go ahead with the fight, notwithstanding the fact that all the necessary contracts have been signed, unless I dropped my lawsuit seeking a confirmation of the termination of our agreement. When I refused to do so, GYM made sure to pull the plug on the fight."

Michel is legally fighting Beterbiev's move to get out of his contract. Michel also promotes two other two light heavyweights - WBC world champion Adonis Stevenson and undefeated Eleider Alvarez. Beterbiev moved from Russia to Canada and has spent his entire career with GYM. All three fighters - Beterbiev, Alvarez and Stevenson - are advised by Al Haymon.

GYM fired right back at Beterbiev's claims regarding the background of the Koelling fight being put off.

"It is with regret today that GYM had to make that decision [of cancelling the fight], but we believe Team Beterbiev is trying to put the guilt on GYM and is posting inaccurate facts. At that time [that he signed the contract] it had been mentioned to Beterbiev's team, his trainer and Sauerland Event that it was a tentative date subject to changes depending on the economic viability of the event," GYM stated.

[Tanzio]

It is a shame that Beterbiev cannot replace the inactive no-hoper that Gvozdyk is scheduled to fight on the Hitman Jr v The Indongo card.

[caldo2025]

Boy talk about wasting a fine boxer's prime career years with this BS. This kid should almost be a household name by now with his talent and here they are making all the wrong headlines. It's sad. Fans have been clamoring for this kid for years now and we are yet to see him in a big fight.

I don't blame Beterbiev's lawsuit trying to get out of his contract because whomever is promoting this guy is epically failing. EPICALLY.

[victor-romeo]

This guy is a big waste, has become the would have could have fighter, best fight I saw him fight was on youtube him vs Usyk in the amateurs damn good fight.

[gilgamesh]

Beterbiev's career has been very poorly handled after a very hot start.