{"id":10162,"date":"2023-09-02T12:45:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T16:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punchinggrace.com\/events\/spencer-c-demond-hermans-11-10-2023-2\/"},"modified":"2024-01-14T09:19:25","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T14:19:25","slug":"beterbiev-c-smith-13-01-2024","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/pungr.agencearobas.ca\/en\/events\/beterbiev-c-smith-13-01-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Beterbiev VS.<\/span> Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Unified light-heavyweight world championship<\/h2>\n

Eye of the Tiger and Punching Grace present: <\/strong>Unified light-heavyweight world championship : Beterbiev vs. Smith.<\/p>\n

The Videotron Centre will host one of the most pivotal fights of Qu\u00e9bec boxing in recent years on Saturday, August 19, when Qu\u00e9bec adoptee Artur Beterbiev, the unified WBC, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight champion of the world, will defend his belts against #1 WBC contender Callum Smith. The 12-round bout, broadcast on ESPN and Punching Grace, will be the headliner of the gala organized by Eye of the Tiger, in partnership with Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing.<\/p>\n

The president of Eye of the Tiger didn\u2019t even blink when deciding where to hold this championship event. Qu\u00e9bec is a sure bet for international events, and is no stranger to high- profile fights, having hosted Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins in 2010, Lucian Bute vs. Glen Johnson in 2011, and Bute vs. James DeGale in 2015.<\/p>\n

The August 19 event will be particularly significant for Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), who has not fought in Qu\u00e9bec since he defended his North American IBF title in 2015 against Gabriel Campillo. \u201cQu\u00e9bec is my second home, so I\u2019m very happy to finally defend my titles on home turf\u201d.<\/p>\n

Since then, the world WBC, IBF and WBO champion has delivered victories in quick succession all over the world, becoming one of the best pound-for-pound boxers anywhere. None of his adversaries, managed to overcome the immeasurable strength of the right-hander who has an imposing KO ratio of 100%.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the sport\u2019s hardest hitters, Artur Beterbiev will continue his conquest on August 19 in beautiful Qu\u00e9bec City, in a duel that is sure to be memorable,\u201d states Top Rank president Bob Arum. \u201cCallum Smith has earned his spot as top contender and will not be intimidated by fighting in enemy territory, on Artur\u2019s home turf\u201d.<\/p>\n

Artur Beterbiev knows that many fighters would like to dethrone him. True to the process that has never failed to take him to the top, Marc Ramsay\u2019s prot\u00e9g\u00e9 has started to prepare for this fight with rigour, discipline and determination. \u201cWhen you\u2019re world champion, everyone wants the opportunity to take your belt, and that\u2019s especially true in my case, with three titles at stake. I\u2019ve already started my training camp and I\u2019ll be ready to not only defend my belt, but also to put on an impressive show on August 19,\u201d asserts Beterbiev.<\/p>\n

Former WBA light-heavyweight world champion Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) will be the latest to try to stop the champion in his tracks. Smith, whose only loss was a unanimous decision against Mexican Saul \u201cCanelo\u201d Alvarez, will be the biggest challenge of Beterbiev\u2019s career. Not only has the Brit shown he can roll with the punches, but he also has the physical advantages of towering at 6\u20193\u201d and having an enviable reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving boxed abroad on many occasions, including in Saudi Arabia and the United States, I didn\u2019t hesitate for a second when I was given the opportunity to confront Beterbiev in Qu\u00e9bec. This is my chance to become world champion of two divisions, and I fully intend to bring the belts home with me to Liverpool,\u201d adds Smith.<\/p>\n

The full card for the #BeterbievSmith event will be released at a later date, but we have already confirmed the participation of Christian Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs), WBC Continental of the Americas super-middleweight champion and current #1 in the WBC World ranking, and of Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs). Wilkens Mathieu (2-0, 1 KOs) and Le\u00efla Beaudoin (9-1, 1 KO) will also be fighting in their home town for the first time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eye of the Tiger and Punching Grace present: Unified light-heavyweight world championship : Beterbiev vs. Smith.","protected":false},"author":1047,"featured_media":14960,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[808],"class_list":["post-10162","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tribe_events_cat-featured-en","cat_featured-en"],"acf":{"video_Iframe":"","event_script":"

<\/div>\r\n