BOXING NEWS understands that the following defence of Artur Beterbiev’s light-heavyweight championship has been postponed.
The Russian-born Canadian resident was because of face Callum Smith on August 19 on the Centre Videotron in Quebec Metropolis.
Beterbiev 19-0 (19) is believed to have suffered a dental harm however additional particulars of that and a rearranged date have been unavailable at time of writing. BN reached out to Smith’s workforce for remark however acquired no response.
The information strikes a small blow in a largely constructive boxing schedule to this point in 2023. Final evening on the T-Cell Area, Las Vegas the theme of massive fights continued when Terence Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr to change into welterweight champion.
Beterbiev, 38, has already confronted British opposition this 12 months having travelled to London in January to defeat Anthony Yarde. Their back-and-forth battle was an exhilarating 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 struggle was stopped by the Brit’s nook.
Smith 29-1 (21) was to be the third British challenger to face Beterbiev with not solely Yarde however Callum Johnson overwhelmed 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 Prime Rank confirmed by way of Twitter that the struggle has been postponed because of a bone an infection to the champion’s jaw. A rescheduled date can be introduced quickly.
