Liverpool’s Callum Smith will challenge Artur Beterbiev for the unified light-heavyweight world titles, live on Sky Sports in the UK on August 20.
WBC 175lb No 1 Smith will travel to Quebec City in Canada to fight Montreal resident Beterbiev for the WBC, IBF and WBO championships.
Beterbiev is one of the most formidable punchers in boxing with a 100 per cent knockout ratio. But Smith, previously the WBA super-middleweight titlist, is on a mission to become a two-weight world champion.
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Artur Beterbiev stopped Joe Smith Jr in two brutal rounds to unify the WBC, IBF and WBO world titles at Madison Square Garden
“Quebec 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 [local time].”
But Smith warned: “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.
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“I’m excited to finally get my opportunity to become a two-weight world champion.”
Smith took over the super-middleweight division when he knocked out George Groves in 2018 to win the WBA championship and the World Boxing Super Series.
He beat John Ryder but lost his title in a unification clash with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Smith subsequently stepped up to light-heavyweight, winning his two fights in the new division with highly-impressive knockout finishes, most recently against Mathieu Bauderlique.
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Beterbiev has stopped every single one of his opponents – watch him live on Sky Sports
Beterbiev, though, has stopped every professional opponent he has faced. The two-time Olympian and amateur world champion has lived in Montreal since turning pro a decade ago.
He has made seven world title defences since toppling Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF title in November 2017, including a shootout with Britain’s Callum Johnson, then a gym-mate of Smith’s.
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 has only fought once in Canada as a world champion, weathering a terrible cut to secure a ninth-round TKO over Marcus Browne in December 2021.
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Beterbiev had to negotiate a deep cut caused by a clash of heads but found an explosive finish to stop Marcus Browne in round nine
Beterbiev followed up the Joe Smith triumph with January’s thrilling eighth-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in the latter’s home city of London.
“The legend of the sport’s most fearsome puncher, Artur Beterbiev, continues August 19 in beautiful Quebec City for a fight that can’t help but be a light-heavyweight championship classic,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
But, he added: “Callum Smith is a deserving mandatory challenger who won’t be intimidated fighting on Artur’s home turf.”