Liverpool’s Callum Smith will fight Artur Beterbiev for the world light-heavyweight championship. Sky Sports in the UK on August 20.
WBC 175lb No 1 Smith will travel to Quebec City in Canada to fight Montreal-based Beterbiev for the WBC, IBF and WBO championships.
Beterbiev is one of the most dangerous boxers with a 100 percent strike rate. But Smith, a former WBA super-middleweight titlist, is on his way to becoming a two-weight world champion.
“Quebec is my second home, so I’m very happy to defend my titles on home court,” said Beterbiev.
“When you become a world champion, everyone wants the opportunity to take your belt, and this is especially true for me, with three titles at stake. belts, and to put on a spectacular show on August 19 [local time].”
But Smith warned: “I’m no stranger to fighting on distant soil, having fought in Saudi Arabia twice, across America, and now I’m going to Canada on August 19. There was no hesitation in going to Canada to fight Artur Beterbiev.” I will return to Liverpool as a world champion.
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“I’m happy to finally get my chance 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 and World Boxing Super Series.
He beat John Ryder but lost his title in a tiebreaker to Mexican star Canelo Alvarez.
Smith later moved up to light-heavyweight, winning two of his fights in the new division with an impressive finish, most recently against Mathieu Bauderlique.
Beterbiev has stopped every challenger – watch him live on Sky Sports
However, Beterbiev has stopped every opponent he has faced. The world Olympian and amateur world champion has lived in Montreal since making the switch ten years ago.
He has made seven international defenses since dethroning Enrico Koelling of the vacant IBF title in November 2017, including a shootout with Britain’s Callum Johnson, a former partner of Smith’s.
Beterbiev picked up the WBC belt with an impressive 2019 knockout of Oleksandr Gvozdyk, adding the WBO title to his list with a second knockout of Joe Smith Jr last year.
He fought just once in Canada as a world champion, overcoming a nasty cut to secure a ninth-round TKO over Marcus Browne in December 2021.
Beterbiev had to negotiate a deep cut caused by a clash of heads but found the threat to stop Marcus Browne in nine games.
Beterbiev followed up Joe Smith’s win with a thrilling January eighth-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in London’s London Stadium.
“The legend of the sport’s most dangerous boxer, Artur Beterbiev, will continue on August 19 in the beautiful city of Quebec in what cannot help but be a lightweight championship,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
But, he added: “Callum Smith is a worthy contender who will not be intimidated to fight at Artur’s house.”