The highly anticipated light-heavyweight title defense by Artur Beterbiev against Britain’s Callum Smith, initially scheduled for August 19th in Canada, has been postponed. Beterbiev, the reigning WBC, WBO, and IBF light-heavyweight champion, underwent surgery due to a bone infection in his jaw.
Beterbiev, who enjoys an impeccable record of 19 wins all by knockout, recently defeated Britain’s Anthony Yarde to retain his titles. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Smith, a former world champion at super-middleweight, has been steadily making his mark in the light-heavyweight division. His victory in the World Boxing Super Series and a solid performance against Canelo Alvarez have earned him the position of the mandatory challenger for Beterbiev’s WBC belt.
A new date for the rescheduled bout will be announced soon. Both boxers have significant stakes in this match: Beterbiev, the only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio, looking to extend his dominance, and Smith, who seeks to claim a title in his new weight class, setting the stage for an explosive showdown.
Image Credit: Sky Sports