BOXING NEWS understands that the subsequent defence of Artur Beterbiev’s light-heavyweight championship has been postponed.
The Russian-born Canadian resident was on account of face Callum Smith on August 19 on the Centre Videotron in Quebec City.
Beterbiev 19-0 (19) is believed to have suffered a dental harm however additional particulars of that and a rearranged date had been unavailable at time of writing. BN reached out to Smith’s staff for remark however obtained no response.
The information strikes a small blow in a largely optimistic boxing schedule up to now in 2023. Last evening on the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas the theme of huge fights continued when Terence Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr to grow to be welterweight champion.
Beterbiev, 38, has already confronted (*19*) opposition this 12 months having travelled to London in January to defeat Anthony Yarde. Their back-and-forth battle was an exciting contest with the challenger going toe-to-toe with one of the crucial fearsome fighters within the sport. Beterbiev’s hurtful punching ultimately took its toll on Yarde and within the eighth around the battle was stopped by the Brit’s nook.
Smith 29-1 (21) was to be the third (*19*) challenger to face Beterbiev with not solely Yarde however Callum Johnson crushed by the unbeaten champion in 2018.
Having gained world honours at super-middleweight Smith, 33, moved as much as light-heavy following his defeat to Canelo Alvarez three years in the past. At his new weight the Liverpudlian has demonstrated his thudding energy with early wins over Gilberto Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlique, respectively.
Edit: At 8.46pm UK time on July 30 Beterbiev’s co-promoter Top Rank confirmed by way of Twitter that the battle has been postponed on account of a bone an infection to the champion’s jaw. A rescheduled date will probably be introduced quickly.
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