ARTUR BETTERBIEV will face the British opposition for the second consecutive fight.
The light heavyweight champion returns on August 19 to face Liverpool’s Callum Smith at the Videotron Center in Quebec City.
Smith is looking to become a two-weight champion, but in order to do so, he must defeat a man considered one of the deadliest fighters on the planet.
Beterbiev has fought 19 times and won every time each opponent failed to hear the final bell. Anthony Yarde was the latest to fall for the Russian-Canadian back in January. Another win for the champion would give him a 3-0 win over the Briton, who beat Callum Johnson in 2018.
“Quebec is my second home, so I’m very happy to finally defend my titles on home soil,” said Beterbiev.
“When you’re a world champion, everyone wants a chance to take your belt, and that’s especially true in my case, with three titles at stake. I have already started my training camp and on August 19th I will be ready not only to defend my belts but also to put on an impressive show.”
Callum Smith (Getty Images)
Smith moved up to 29-1 (21) at 175 pounds in 2020 after losing on points to Canelo Alvarez. Both of his fights in the new weight class were victories. However, Gilberto Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlik are nowhere near Beterbiev’s quality. They each finished the heavyweight Smith in impressive fashion and the Liverpudlian is confident he can dethrone the lightweight king.
“I’m excited to finally have the opportunity to become a two-weight world champion. I’m no stranger to fighting on foreign soil, I’ve boxed twice in Saudi Arabia, across America, and now I’m off to Canada on August 19th. I couldn’t hesitate to go to Canada to fight Artur Beterbiev and I will be back. “Liverpool” once again as world champion”.