1/13/24 ESPN: Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith (WBO, WBC, IBF Light Heavyweight Titles)

[patscorpio]

QUEBEC CITY, Canada (May 25, 2023) — King Artur and his three world titles are coming home to Canada.

Montreal resident Artur Beterbiev, the unified WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight world champion, will defend his belts against WBC No. 1 contender Callum “Mundo” Smith on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Videotron Centre in Québec City, Canada.

Promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, Beterbiev-Smith and a co-feature 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.

The August 19 event will be particularly significant for Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He has not fought in Québec City since he defended his IBF North American belt in 2015 against Gabriel Campillo.

“This is a momentous event for us, as we’re continually striving to bring major fights back to the province. We’re thrilled to be able to make this happen with the best boxer in the history of Québec, Artur Beterbiev, who will share the limelight with other EOTTM fighters. We hope that boxing fans will attend in droves, and that the evening will mark the beginning of a new era of boxing in Québec,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan.

“The legend of the sport’s most fearsome puncher, Artur Beterbiev, continues August 19 in beautiful Québec City for a fight that can’t help but be a light heavyweight championship classic,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Callum Smith is a deserving mandatory challenger who won’t be intimidated fighting on Artur’s home turf.”

“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.”

Smith said,“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.”

Beterbiev, a two-time Olympian, has lived in Montreal since turning pro a decade ago. He has made seven world title defenses since toppling Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF title in November 2017. Beterbiev picked up the WBC strap with a stirring 2019 knockout over Oleksandr Gvozdyk, then added the WBO title to his collection with last year’s second-round drubbing of Joe Smith Jr. He’s only fought once in Canada as world champion, a ninth-round TKO over Marcus Browne in December 2021. Beterbiev followed up the Smith triumph with January’s thrilling eighth-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in Yarde’s hometown of London.

Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) is a former WBA super middleweight world champion who holds victories over George Groves, Hassan N’Dam and John Ryder. His championship run came to an end in December 2019, when he lost a one-sided decision to pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez in a title unification tilt. Smith moved up to light heavyweight following the Canelo defeat and notched knockout victories over Gilbert Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlique.

The full card for the Beterbiev-Smith event, which will also feature undefeated super middleweight Christian Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) and heavyweight puncher Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs), will be announced shortly. Local talents Wilkens Mathieu (2-0, 1 KOs), Leïla Beaudoin (9-1, 1 KO) and Clovis Drolet (13-1, 9 KOs) will also fight in front of their hometown supporters.

Tickets for the August 19 event at the Videotron Centre go on sale tomorrow, May 26 at 12 p.m. ET via www.ticketmaster.ca.

 

[patscorpio]

QUEBEC CITY, Canada (June 14, 2023) – A pair of Olympic heavyweights will attempt to steal the show in Canada’s biggest boxing event of the year.

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.

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

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!"

 

[patscorpio]

 

[patscorpio]

i was thinking about going to this.. but im not a fan of quebec city like that...we will see

 

[Jerz]

Callum gon ko Beterbiev. I've been calling it since the fight was announced. My upset prediction of the year

 

[Recca Gatsby]

Callum gon ko Beterbiev. I've been calling it since the fight was announced. My upset prediction of the year

NYGGA PLEASE

 

[Jerz]

NYGGA PLEASE

Vegas licking they chops right now. They kno yall saw the Canelo fight, and just gonna compare it. This a bad matchup for Beterbiev. shyt Vegas only got Callum at +250

 

[patscorpio]

Vegas licking they chops right now. They kno yall saw the Canelo fight, and just gonna compare it. This a bad matchup for Beterbiev. shyt Vegas only got Callum at +250

i was hoping you were going to not mention canelo when made your little upset prediction...you could have mentioned yarde tagging beterbiev a little too much, or starting to slow down due to age, or callum has looked sharp and strong since moving up to 175..something of that nature as the basis of your prediction

 

[Jerz]

i was hoping you were going to not mention canelo when made your little upset prediction...you could have mentioned yarde tagging beterbiev a little too much, or starting to slow down due to age, or callum has looked sharp and strong since moving up to 175..something of that nature as the basis of your prediction heh:

you impressed here. But I was hoping you mentioned how this is best technically sound fighter Beterbiev has faced, how he's already been dropped by a big left hook, which is Callum kill shot. But also how Callum has power in both hands, and has the big reach advantage. And how to this day, Smith actually has never in been knocked before. This fight is in Beterbiev backyard, and he's still only a slight favorite

 

[patscorpio]

you impressed here. But I was hoping you mentioned how this is best technically sound fighter Beterbiev has faced, how he's already been dropped by a big left hook, which is Callum kill shot. But also how Callum has power in both hands, and has the big reach advantage. And how to this day, Smith actually has never in been knocked before. This fight is in Beterbiev backyard, and he's still only a slight favorite

nah i think Gvozdyk was a better fighter technically than Callum smith with power to boot..he was winning on the cards late in the fight against Beterbiev before he got completely broke down and beaten down. I was there. Beterbiev's lone weakness is he's a slow starter and he can be caught cold early..which is where his knockdowns occurred. If Callum Smith goes past 4-5 without denting him AND/OR letting him off the hook, he is not winning that fight

 

[Jerz]

nah i think Gvozdyk was a better fighter technically than Callum smith with power to boot..he was winning on the cards late in the fight against Beterbiev before he got completely broke down and beaten down. I was there. Beterbiev's lone weakness is he's a slow starter and he can be caught cold early..which is where his knockdowns occurred. If Callum Smith goes past 4-5 without denting him AND/OR letting him off the hook, he is not winning that fight

Hard for me to say Gvozdyk is better technical fighter. I kno exactly what he's going to do. Jab, straight right. Jab, straight combo. Occasional shot at the body.. His defense is slide out of distance when he's not engaging. Callum doesn't waste as many punches, and takes his time. Hes decent at dodging punches in the pocket, while he tries to set you up. The power in both hands makes him a threat at all times. Beterbiev gets stronger later in the fight, but Callum doesn't fall off. Of course the wear and tear may take Callum out, but as long as he's in the fight, he can end it, no matter the round. This a dangerous fight for Beterbiev. Im betting a Callum ko

 

[Rev Leon Lonnie Love]

this gon be a one sided beat down, I might just check it out for the inevitable stoppage.

 

[The axe murderer]

nah i think Gvozdyk was a better fighter technically than Callum smith with power to boot..he was winning on the cards late in the fight against Beterbiev before he got completely broke down and beaten down. I was there. Beterbiev's lone weakness is he's a slow starter and he can be caught cold early..which is where his knockdowns occurred. If Callum Smith goes past 4-5 without denting him AND/OR letting him off the hook, he is not winning that fight

I argue he has more power considering the Adonis Steevens match. that was legit scary

 

[GzUp]

@mr smoke weed would have been hype for this fight.

 

[The axe murderer]

@mr smoke weed would have been hype for this fight.