Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith | ESPN - January 13, 2024

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Artur Beterbiev title defense vs. Callum Smith set for Aug. 19

A former world champion will be the latest to test one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport.

Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his titles against Callum Smith, Top Rank Promotions announced Thursday. Beterbiev will face the ex-super middleweight titleholder on Aug. 19 in Quebec City, where the undefeated Beterbiev lives.

The native Russian is currently ranked No. 1 in ESPN's light heavyweight ranking and is eighth on ESPN's men's pound-for-pound list. Beterbiev is looking for his 20th knockout in as many professional fights.

"Québec is my second home, so I'm very happy to finally defend my titles on home turf," Beterbiev said in Top Rank's statement announcing the fight.

The bout against Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) marks Beterbiev's first title defense in Canada since 2021, when he knocked out Marcus Browne in Montreal to retain the IBF and WBC belts.

Since moving up to the 175-pound division following a 2020 loss to Canelo Alvarez, Smith has won his past two fights. Most recently, the Englishman stopped Mathieu Bauderlique on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II undercard last August.

This March, the WBC ordered Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) to face Smith in a mandatory title defense. Top Rank earned the right to promote the fight by submitting a winning purse bid in April.

Many have clamored for a potential undisputed fight between Beterbiev and Bivol, the longtime WBA champion. However, the WBC has been adamantly opposed to sanctioning Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) because of his continued Russian ties amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.

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[Evander]

Age and style comparison, there's a road for Smith to take it a few rounds.

[Cent0089]

I actualy like this fight

[Freedom]

Beterbiev destroys Smith.

[adislav123]

could be more competitive than the beterbiev hype would let you think.

smith filled out at light heavy and if he puts some pop behind his rangy jab and actually comes to win we could have an amazing clash of styles at hand.

[Evander]

Couldn't have chosen a nicer city to box in.
I was out in Quebec City last summer, beautiful place.
Callum Smith had better bring his best self because Beterbiev is on fire these days.

[Evander]

Beterbiev looks a bit like Oddbod from the Carry on Screaming movies.
Hard job for Callum Smith.

[Mexi-Box]

For some reason, I'm just waiting for Beterbiev to lose to a marginal fighter and Callum Smith is perfect. Well, I also thought the same about Yarde. Point being that Beterbiev makes me wince. He needs to huge fight because all the injuries and tough fights will see him age overnight. Needs to fight Bivol sooner rather than later.

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Press Release | Guido Vianello vs. Simon Kean Added

2016 Italian Olympian Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello will take on 2012 Canadian Olympian Simon “The Grizzly” Kean in a 10-round heavyweight battle on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. Vianello-Kean will serve as the co-feature to the light heavyweight showdown between WBC/WBO/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev and WBC No. 1 contender Callum “Mundo” Smith.

Beterbiev-Smith and Vianello-Kean will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The card will air live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Vianello (10-1-1, 9 KOs) debuted in the paid ranks in December 2018 and won his first seven bouts in three rounds or less. His progress stalled after a 2020 draw against Kingsley Ibeh and an injury-filled 2021 in which he fought only once. The 29-year-old returned in July 2022 with a fourth-round TKO win against Rafael Rios. Three months later, he scored a dominant eight-round decision over Jay McFarlane in front of a hometown crowd in Rome. In his last fight, Vianello lost his '0' after a right hand from veteran Jonnie Rice caused a cut above his left eye, forcing the referee to end the bout in the seventh round. Vianello was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

Vianello said, “I’m in great shape and looking to avenge the freak accident that ended my fight last time. Simon Kean is a big name in Canada, and I’m coming for a knockout. This is my new era. I see only myself in the center of the ring, and any opponent is just stopping me from getting to where I want to be.”

Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) began his pro career in November 2015 and finished his first seven opponents in five rounds or less. Apart from his decision over Avery Gibson in 2017, all his victories have ended via knockout. He captured his first regional title with a third-round TKO against Adam Braidwood in June 2018. Four months later, he suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Dillon Carman. The 34-year-old slugger bounced back with eight stoppage wins, including a third-round TKO over Carman in their 2019 rematch and a seventh-round TKO against former world title challenger Eric Molina in March.

Kean said, “Vianello is a big contender, the biggest challenge of my career, but I’m there. I'm training hard, and it paid off in my last fight. I'm a 2.0 version of ‘The Grizzly.’ Nothing has been left to chance in preparation for this fight against the Italian Olympian, and it promises to be a smashing victory for me!"

[Thomastearns]

For some reason, I'm just waiting for Beterbiev to lose to a marginal fighter and Callum Smith is perfect. Well, I also thought the same about Yarde. Point being that Beterbiev makes me wince. He needs to huge fight because all the injuries and tough fights will see him age overnight. Needs to fight Bivol sooner rather than later.

He does.

The thing about Beterbiev is his fantastic ability to dig deep and always find enough to win. Smith is probably already resigned to getting bashed up, for a price of course.

Bivol is the real test, but time is running out.

[ironbeard]

Intriguing matchmaking. Smith has the tools to make it a great fight, if he comes to win. If Beterbiev has slipped at all, Smith has a shot.

[margaret thatcher]

interesting fight, callum has power and sharp hands when he lets them go. but the showing vs canelo was pretty limp tbh, totally in his shell without confidence. hopefully he turns up with more ambition and then we might get a real fire fight

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CHRISTIAN MBILLI TO FACE DEMOND NICHOLSON ON BETERBIEV-SMITH UNDERCARD

Exciting super middleweight Christian Mbilli will face Demond Nicholson in a scheduled 10-round contest on the undercard of IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight beltholder Artur Beterbiev’s title defense against Callum Smith, at Videotron Centre, in Quebec City, Canada, on August 19.

Last week we learned that, in chief support, Simon Kean will face Guido Vianello in a heavyweight contest.

The all-action Mbilli and Nicholson shouldn’t disappoint. Both men are known as punchers and for their aggressive styles.

Mbilli (24-0, 20 knockouts), The Ring’s No. 3 ranked super middleweight, represented France at the 2016 Olympics, losing to eventual gold medalist Arlen Lopez at the quarterfinal stage.

He moved to Canada and, after taking the usual steps, has worked his way up the rankings, impressively dominating Ronald Ellis (UD 10), scoring an eye-catching knockout over former title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (KO 5), blitzing DeAndre Ware (KO 2) and, most recently, engaged in a thrill-a-minute war with Carlos Gongora (UD 10).

Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs) turned professional in 2013. The Maryland native won his first 10 fights, all inside the distance, before tasting defeat against Lekan Byfield (L TKO 6).

The now 30-year-old rebounded with seven wins before drawing with Immanuwel Aleem (Maj. D 8) and losing to Steve Rolls (SD 8). Subsequent defeats came against Jesse Hart (L TKO 7) and Edgar Berlanga (L UD 8). Nicholson won three fights before a loss, in his most recent bout, to two-division beltholder Demetrius Andrade (L UD 10).

Beterbiev-Smith, plus supporting undercard, will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. The card will air live and exclusively on in the UK and Ireland.

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Press Release

The WBC Continental Americas and WBA International super middleweight champion, Christian Mbilli, will return to the ring on August 19 at the Videotron Centre as he defends his titles on the card headlined by the unified WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, who defends against British mandatory challenger Callum Smith.

The protege of EOTTM will face American contender Demond Nicholson in a 10-round bout.

Following his spectacular performance on March 23 against the southpaw Carlos Gongora, Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) continues his quest for a world title in the super middleweight division, currently dominated by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

The strategy favored by his team is to maintain his position in the world rankings and continue facing the best opponents to force the hand of the boxing federations to grant him a mandatory contender position.

Currently ranked 1st by the WBC, Mbilli will secure his 5th title defense against an equally offensive and resilient boxer.

Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs) has built a solid reputation in the super middleweight division after facing some of the best boxers in the weight class, including Edgar Berlanga, the holder of the NABO title at 168 lbs, and former WBO world champion currently ranked #1 by the WBA and #5 by the WBC, Demetrius Andrade.

Nicholson became the first boxer to go the full distance with Berlanga, after the heavy handed fighter had stopped his first 16 opponents in the first round.

"I know Nicholson has a reputation for being an offensive boxer, tough, and seizing every opportunity to strike first. But you know me, I'm ready for war, and above all, I intend to dominate from the first to the last round, if we make it that far! August 19th will be a solid’ evening!" mentioned Christian Mbilli.

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Nooooooo!!

[Cent0089]

Beterbiev will be soooo old when he faces Bivol

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Looking at November now

[Evander]

I was looking forward to that.

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Press Release

WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev now has a date to defend his crown. After recent dental surgery forced Beterbiev to postpone his Aug. 19 title defense against former world champion Callum Smith, the two will now meet Saturday, Jan. 13 at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.

Promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets are on sale now via www.ticketmaster.ca.

“It’s a few months later than originally planned, but I am thrilled that Artur Beterbiev will have a chance to defend his titles in front of the incredible Quebec City fans,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Artur has a clean bill of health, and I know Callum, a supremely talented former champion, will be at his best on January 13th.”

“I’m very pleased that the camps came to an agreement quickly, so we can go ahead with this light heavyweight championship super fight,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan. “It’s going to heat up this January in Quebec City.”

Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), boxing’s only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, has made seven title defenses since capturing the IBF strap in November 2017. He is coming off January’s stirring eighth-round TKO over Anthony Yarde in Yarde’s hometown of London. Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), from Liverpool, England, is the former Ring Magazine and WBA super middleweight world champion. He has won two fights since moving up to light heavyweight following a decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez in December 2020.

The ticket holders have the option to either keep the tickets they purchased and retain the previously selected seats, or get a refund. The refund option will be available via the Ticketmaster account of the person who purchased the tickets. In the case of a ticket transfer, the original purchaser will have to proceed with the refund request. Any refund requests made after this deadline will be denied. For any questions, contact the ticket office at Centre Vidéotron.

[Thomastearns]

It's a great fight no doubt, as all of Beterbiev's action packed fights are, but Jan 13, 2024 is still an absolute age away in terms of wait time.

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