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Spoelstra on GM 7: ‘We are going up there and get it done’
We got an absolute classic on Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.
Jimmy Butler, who was 5/21 from the field but finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, was fouled by Al Horford, shooting a three. Butler would make all three free throws with 3.0 seconds to go, which gave the Celtics enough time. Boston’s Marcus Smart would miss a three, Derrick White would tip it in at the buzzer, and Boston would defeat the Heat 104-103 in Miami to even the series at three.
After being down 3-0, the Celtics have forced a Game 7 on Monday night back in Boston and could be the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Last season, the Celtics defeated the Heat in the conference finals in Game 7 in Miami.
According to Butler, if he had played better, the Heat would have finished the series.
“Like I told the guys on the bench, I told the guys in the locker room, that if I play better, we’re not even in this position, honestly speaking,” Butler said after the loss. “And I will be better. That’s what makes me smile because those guys follow my lead. So when I’m playing better, I think we’re playing better as a whole.”
Butler knows the Heat must find a way to get through the Celtics.
“I think, I believe, as we all do like you’re going to get the same test until you pass it, I swear,” he said. “We were in this same position last year. We can do it. I know that we will do it. We’ve got to go on the road and win in a very, very, very tough environment. But we are capable of it. So let’s get busy.”
Miami won the first two games of this series and has proven they can succeed in Boston, and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is confident in his guys.
“This is one hell of a series,” he said. “At this time right now, I don’t know how we are going to get this done, but we are going up there and get it done. And that’s what the next 48 hours is about.”
Boston is 5-0 in these playoffs in elimination games and defeated the 76ers in Game 7 in the second round. This is a battled-tested group that has “unfinished business.”
It will be tough for the Heat to win after such a deflating loss, but as Spoelstra said, Miami will have to get it done.
Lopez: ‘I want all their belts’
On Saturday, IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) went on the road again and scored a fifth-round TKO over Michael “Mick” Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) at The SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.
Lopez, 29, made the first defense of his crown after capturing the title from Josh Warrington in enemy territory in Leeds, England.
Unfortunately for Conlan, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, his second attempt at a world title falls short.
Conlan, 31, had some moments in this fight, but Lopez really had no problems landing, and things started to fall apart for Conlan in the third round as Lopez timed an uppercut that hurt him and sent him against the ropes.
In the fifth round, the fight ended as Conlan, who tried to avoid a hook, ran into a right uppercut that immediately floored him, forcing his corner to throw in the towel.
“I hope all the world champions at the featherweight division are ready for ‘Venado’ Lopez,” Lopez said after the win. “I’m coming for all of them. I want all their belts. One by one, I’m taking all their belts with me to Mexico.”
Conlan had nothing but respect for the Mexican star.
“Lopez had my respect before the fight and still has my respect after the fight,” Conlan said. “He hits very hard. He just beat me. He travels well and is a great champion.”
In other action:
Featherweights: English contender Nick Ball (18-0, 11 KOs) defended his WBC Silver title with a 12th-round TKO win over South Africa’s Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs). Lamati’s six-inch height advantage posed issues for Ball in the first two rounds of the fight, but by the third and fourth, Ball began closing the distance with ease. Once inside, the 26-year-old landed vicious combinations, and Lamati’s corner stopped the bout in the latter stages of the final round.
Junior Lightweights: Anthony Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs) scored a 12-round unanimous decision win against Polish contender Damian Wrzesinski (26-3-2, 7 KOs). Despite Wrzesinski’s aggression, Cacace’s reach and height advantages allowed him to land harder and more consistently from his southpaw stance. Cacace is now 6-0 since suffering his first loss in 2017 against Martin J Ward. Scores: 118-111, 117-111 and 116-112.
Junior Welterweights: Irish standout Pierce O’Leary (12-0, 7 KOs) defended his WBC International belt with a first-round stoppage over Florin Ciorceri (17-4, 7 KOs). O’Leary dropped Ciorceri with a left hook, then finished things up with a savage follow-up attack. Time of stoppage: 1:11.
Rocha: ‘I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight’
Alexis “Lex” Rocha (23-1,15 KOs) beat up and beat down Anthony “Juice” Young (24-3, 8 KOs) and would knock him out in the fifth round in the main event at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Rocha, 25, put pressure on Young from the beginning to the end, and Rocha ultimately broke him down; the referee stopped the fight at 2:25 in the fifth round.
Santa Ana, California native won every round on all three judges’ scorecards, and he was again dominant.
Rocha has been very busy of late; this was his seventh fight in 23 months, his second straight stoppage victory. Rocha is the mandatory contender for the WBO 147-pound champion Terence Crawford, and he made it clear that he wants the winner of Errol Spence-Crawford’s fight on July 29.
“I knew he was going to come in with the same energy he did when he fought Sadam Ali, and I was ready for that,” Rocha said. “I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight, and I am confident with the help of my amazing promoter, Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, we’ll make it happen.”
Rocha is a fun fighter, and while he might not beat a Spence or Crawford, it definitely will be fun.
Photo: Golden Boy/ Cris Esqueda
In other action:
In a dominant performance, lightweight fighter Oscar Duarte (26-1-1, 11 KOs) of Parral, Chihuahua added an 11th-straight knockout win to his resume as the co-main event that was presented in association with Cancun Boxing. Duarte sent his opponent D’Angelo “King” Keyes (17-3, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas to the mat twice; once in the third round and in the seventh round. Originally scheduled for 10-rounds, Keyes only made it to the end of the seventh where his corner waived the white towel.
“This was an amazing fight, with a great rival who was incredibly tough and very prepared,” said Oscar Duarte. “From the beginning, our plan was to break him down little by little. As I said in previous interviews, I wasn’t going to go looking for the knockout, I just knew it was going to happen naturally just based on how well I had prepared and how I have matured physically and mentally. I would love a fight against William Zepeda.”
Making history for Villalba, Puerto Rico, Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (7-0, 4 KOs) etched his name amongst the greats of Puerto Rican fighters and his division by being the fastest to become a world champion in the minimumweight division. He became the new WBO Minimumweight Champion when his opponent, former champion of Santos City, Philippines, Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (20-2, 12 KOs) retired in his corner at the conclusion of the seventh round.
“We knew we had a solid challenge ahead of us, but thanks to my corner, they helped me stay calm throughout the fight,” said Oscar Collazo. “I knew I had to establish the pace with my jab, and by the fourth or fifth round we started to hit the body and he didn’t like it. We chopped the tree and we made history for Villalba. I will see you all in Puerto Rico in August, where I will make my first title defense.”
Opening the DAZN broadcast, Los Angeles’ John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs) fought in one of his toughest fights yet against Riverside, CA’s warrior Fernando “Leoncito” Diaz (12-4-1, 4 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight fight. Ramirez secured a split division victory with judges scoring the fight 96-94, 94-96, and 96-94.
The Golden Boy Fight Night: Rocha vs. Young Prelims, featured the highly anticipated debut of Eric Priest (10-0, 7 KOs) of Los Angeles under the Golden Boy Promotions banner. Priest faced a resilient fighter from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ricardo Villalba (20-9-1, 8 KOs), in an eight-round middleweight fight that went the distance. The judges scored the bout unanimously in favor of Priest with scores of 79-73, 80-72, 80-72.
In a pro-debut performance, recently signed Golden Boy prospect of Santa Ana, Johnny Cañas (1-0) secured an unanimous decision victory against the tough Jose Alvarado (1-8) of Puebla, Mexico. The judges scored the four-round super lightweight fight 40-36, 39-37, 39-37.
Opening fight night and the Golden Boy YouTube Prelims with a dazzling knockout in front of a hometown Coachella crowd, Leonardo “Bazooka” Sanchez (5-0, 4 KOs) added yet another highlight reel performance in his super featherweight fight against Uhlices Reyes (1-1, 1 KO) of Omaha, Nebraska. Scheduled for four-rounds, Sanchez sent Reyes to the mat once in the first round and twice during the second, ending the fight at 1:01 in second round.
Mosley Jr.-Ballard to be co-main event on Munguia-Derevyanchenko
Returning the ring for the second time in 2023, Shane Mosley, Jr. (19-4, 10 KOs) will face a tough dance partner from Temple Hills, Massachusetts, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight scrap. The fight is set as the co-main event for the highly anticipated Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko card scheduled for Saturday, June 10(DAZN).
Mosley, Jr. has had back-to-back victories, including a tough fight with “King” Gabriel Rosado in April 2022 and an unanimous decision win against Mario Alberto Lozano in February 2023. Ballard is looking for a strong comeback into the ring after a TKO defeat against Munguia in February 2022.
Also on the DAZN card, Mexico City’s Mariana “Barby” Juarez (55-12-4, 19 KOs) will battle her compatriot also of Mexico City, Mayeli Flores (9-1-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round super bantamweight fight. Juarez is a former two-division world champion who held the WBC female flyweight title and the WBC female bantamweight title. Juarez was last seen in the ring fighting Yamileth Mercado for the WBC World Super Bantamweight title in October 2022. Flores is a former world title contender and will be looking to move up in the rankings if successful against Juarez.
Opening the DAZN broadcast, Rialto’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (21-2, 16 KOs) will participate in a 10-round flyweight fight against Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (22-1, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles. Sandoval is coming off of an impressive second-round win against Jerson Ortiz on the Nery vs. Hovhannisyan card. Santomauro is a dangerous fighter whose only blemish is a seventh-round TKO loss against Diego De La Hoya in 2016.
On the preliminary card, fan-favorite from San Diego, Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chavez (6-0, 5 KOs) will fight in a six-round super featherweight fight against Christian “El Niño” Lorenzo (3-4, 1 KO) of Los Angeles. Opening the Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko fight night with a four-round super welterweight fight, Anthony Saldivar (3-0, 1 KOs) of Ontario, California will face Jerome Clayton (2-1-1, 2 KOs) of Metairie, Louisiana.
Returning the ring for the second time in 2023, Shane Mosley, Jr. (19-4, 10 KOs) will face a tough dance partner from Temple Hills, Massachusetts, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight scrap. The fight is set as the co-main event for the highly anticipated Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko card scheduled for Saturday, June 10(DAZN).
Mosley, Jr. has had back-to-back victories, including a tough fight with “King” Gabriel Rosado in April 2022 and an unanimous decision win against Mario Alberto Lozano in February 2023. Ballard is looking for a strong comeback into the ring after a TKO defeat against Munguia in February 2022.
Also on the DAZN card, Mexico City’s Mariana “Barby” Juarez (55-12-4, 19 KOs) will battle her compatriot also of Mexico City, Mayeli Flores (9-1-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round super bantamweight fight. Juarez is a former two-division world champion who held the WBC female flyweight title and the WBC female bantamweight title. Juarez was last seen in the ring fighting Yamileth Mercado for the WBC World Super Bantamweight title in October 2022. Flores is a former world title contender and will be looking to move up in the rankings if successful against Juarez.
Opening the DAZN broadcast, Rialto’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (21-2, 16 KOs) will participate in a 10-round flyweight fight against Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (22-1, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles. Sandoval is coming off of an impressive second-round win against Jerson Ortiz on the Nery vs. Hovhannisyan card. Santomauro is a dangerous fighter whose only blemish is a seventh-round TKO loss against Diego De La Hoya in 2016.
On the preliminary card, fan-favorite from San Diego, Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chavez (6-0, 5 KOs) will fight in a six-round super featherweight fight against Christian “El Niño” Lorenzo (3-4, 1 KO) of Los Angeles. Opening the Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko fight night with a four-round super welterweight fight, Anthony Saldivar (3-0, 1 KOs) of Ontario, California will face Jerome Clayton (2-1-1, 2 KOs) of Metairie, Louisiana.
Butler: ‘We’ll just have to close it out at home’
After three games in the Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat led the series 3-0 and were on the verge of what appeared to be a sweep. However, the Celtics fought back in the second half of Game 4 in Miami and kept the series alive.
On Thursday night in Game 5 in Boston, the Celtics led from start to finish and defeated the Heat 110-97.
Boston, who led by as many as 24 points, had four players score at least 20 or more. Derrick White led the way with 24 points, Marcus Smart had 23, and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown added 21 points a piece.
The series shifts back to Miami for Game 6 on Saturday, and Jimmy Butler, who had 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists, believes the Heat will end the series in Miami.
“We’ve just got to play better,” Butler said. “Start the game off better on the starters; make it more difficult for them. They are in a rhythm since the beginning of the game. But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can, and we will win this series. We’ll just have to close it out at home.”
Butler explained why he has so much confidence.
“Because the last two games are not who we are,” he said. “It just happened to be that way. We stopped playing defense halfway because we didn’t make shots that we want to make. But that’s easily correctable. You just have to come out and play harder from the jump. Like I always say, it’s going to be all smiles, and we are going to keep it very, very, very consistent, knowing that we are going to win next game.”
On paper, the Celtics are the better team. In the first two games, the Celtics were close but could not close it out. In Game 3, Boston was terrible, and now they may have righted the ship.
We’ll see what happens in Game 6.
Jaguars sign K Brandon McManus
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed K Brandon McManus, the team announced on Thursday.
Additionally, the team has waived K Riley Patterson.
McManus, 31, was released by the Broncos this week; he spent his whole career in Denver.
Last season, McManus converted 28/36 field goals.
In his nine seasons, McManus has converted 81.4 percent (223-of-274) of his field goal attempts, and his 40 made field goals of 50-plus yards are third-most in the NFL over that time span. His 946 total points are the fifth-most in the NFL since 2014.
He has appeared in four postseason contests and successfully converted all 10 field goal attempts, including two from 50-plus yards. He is one of two kickers to convert all field goal and extra point attempts (minimum 10 field goals made) in the postseason in the last nine seasons.
McManus was the last remaining member of the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl-winning team.
Complete undercard announced for Broner-Hutchinson
Adrien “The Problem” Broner, Four-time World Champion in four weight divisions, and one of the most riveting boxers of his era, returns to the ring against William “Hutch” Hutchinson in a ten-round welterweight bout in the main event on Friday, June 9 at Casino Miami.
“This is a great card from top to bottom, headlined by “The Problem” fighter Adrien Broner,” said promoter Don King. “I am the promoter of the people, for the people and we are giving the people what they want, and that is great fights.”
In the co-featured bout, headlining the stacked undercard, will be a light heavyweight title fight for the World Boxing Association NABA and World Boxing Council NABF Light Heavyweight belts between NABA champion Ahmed ElBali and Rodolfo Gomez.
Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux (21-3, 14 KOs) from Cuba, now residing in Miami, will fight in a ten-round bantamweight bout against former WBO Latino and Argentinean Super Bantamweight Champion Julian Evaristo Aristule (35-17-1, 18 KOs). Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and two-division world champion, had become one of the most avoided boxers in the world and eventually had to move up multiple weight classes to get big fights made.
Neslan “Pitbull” Machado (19-0, 8 KOs) from Miami via Cuba, is a former WBC Latino Bantamweight Champion, will fight in a ten-round featherweight bout.
Someone’s ‘0’ will have to go in an eight-round super featherweight battle of undefeateds Raynel Maderos and Antonio Perez. The twenty-six-year-old Maderos (8-0, 2 KOs) made his pro debut at 22 years old, was born in Cuba and lives in Miami. The twenty-one-year-old Perez (7-0, 5 KOs), from Harrisburg, PA, is less than two years into his professional career.
In a ten-round bout for the WBA Fecarbox lightweight title, local undefeated boxer, Antonio “Bang” Williams (15-0-1, 6 KOs), from Fort Lauderdale, FL, will battle Dominican Braulio Rodriguez (20-6, 17 KOs). This will not only be William’s first ten round fight, but Rodriguez will be his toughest opponent to date.
Dorian Bostic (13-0, 12 KOs) from Dundalk, Maryland, will fight in a six-round lightweight bout against David Boria. This will be Dorian’s first fight in the USA in over two years as five of his last six fights were staged in Colombia. His last fight, in August, was his first that went the distance, breaking his twelve-fight knockout win streak. It was a shutout however.
Opening the show will be undefeated southpaw welterweight Adlay Rodriguez (4-0, 4 KOs). Adlay made his pro debut last June and is from Cuba now living in Miami. Also, twenty-seven-year-old Cubano Alex Espnda, who made his successful pro debut in January with a first round knockout, will fight in a ten-round super welterweight bout.
Adrien “The Problem” Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs), born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, made his pro debut 2008 at nineteen years old. In 2011, Broner won WBC, WBO and WBC regional titles in back-to-back-to-back fights. Immediately following, on November 26, 2011, he won his first world title, becoming WBO World Super Featherweight Champion. He defended that title three times then oved up in weight and won the WBC World Lightweight title on November 17, 2012. Broner defended that title once then fought for and became the WBA World Welterweight Champion by beating Paul Malignaggi. He won his fourth world title in a fourth weight division, becoming WBA Super Lightweight World Champion in 2015.
Bill “Hutch” Hutchinson (20-2-4, 9 KOs) was born, raised and lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Hutch” and has not lost a fight in seven years. The thirty-four-year-old began boxing at thirteen. After a few quick wins by knockout, it was difficult to find opponents, so he was in and out of the gym through his teen years, focusing on football. Because of his limited amateur career, he had a rough start to his pro career, losing his debut at 22 and drawing twice in his first six fights. He then strung wins, while gaining a huge following in his region, calling comparisons to Arturo Gatti for his style and states he has never been in a boring fight I his life. Quite the intellect, Hutch began taking college courses at fifteen, has his law degree and has law offices in both Pittsburgh and Naples, Florida. “For those that don’t know me, they will after I beat Broner.”
WBA NABA Light Heavyweight Champion Ahmed “The American Pharaoh” Elbiali (22-1, 18 KOs) was born in Cairo, Egyp and now resides in Miami, Florida. He won the title in his most recent bout, on June 11 at Casino Miami. Prior to that bout, he had one five fights in a row via knockout. As an amateur, Elbial was two-time Florida State Golden Gloves Champion. He also holds the unique experience of sparring against both Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.
Rodolfo “Cobrita” Gomez (14-6-3, 10 KOs) was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and now lives in Laredo, Texas. In 2021, Gomez recently went 10 tough rounds and lost decision versus KO artist and undefeated Diego Pacheco and in 2018 knocked out former world champion Ricardo Mayorga.
Buccaneers announce dates, times for preseason schedule
On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed the dates and times of the team’s 2023 preseason slate, which will feature matchups with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.
Tampa Bay will kick off its 2023 preseason with a home game at Raymond James Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Buccaneers have played five prior preseason contests against the Steelers, with the most recent coming in 2019.
In preseason Week 2, the Buccaneers will travel to face the New York Jets for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, August 19. It will be the first preseason matchup between the two teams since 2006. Prior to the game, the teams will conduct joint practices with one another in Florham Park, New Jersey. More details regarding joint practices will be provided at a later date.
The Buccaneers will close out the 2023 preseason at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m. ET, marking the second ever preseason game between the two teams.
Last season, Tampa Bay(8-9) won the NFC South. The Buccaneers’ season would end in the Wild Card round at home against the Cowboys.
Shields to face Cornejo; Gabriels removed after testing positive for banned substance
Boxing superstar and two-division undisputed world champion Claressa Shields will now face no. 1 ranked middleweight contender Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo in the main event of action on Saturday, June 3 from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit(DAZN).
Hanna Gabriels was originally slated to rematch Shields; However, based on the results of a May 2, 2023 VADA test done as part of the WBC Clean Boxer Program, promoter Salita Promotions made the change.
Boxing’s G.W.O.A.T. and Michigan’s own Shields will live up to her promise to bring big-time boxing back to Detroit by stepping up to face the WBC, WBO and IBF no. 1 ranked contender Cornejo in the first-ever boxing event at Little Caesars Arena. The two highly-competitive combatants had strong statements about their June 3 showdown.
“I told my team to get me the best,’ said Undisputed Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields. “Cornejo is a tall, tough Mexican full of pride who’s in great shape and wants to beat me. She’s ranked number one. That’s exactly what I want for my Detroit homecoming and for my fans around the world. I’m looking forward to a great performance on June 3.”
“When Shields faced a Mexican in the cage, she lost. Now she will lose to a Mexican in the boxing ring,” said Cornejo. “I just finished an amazing fight camp and am in the best, strongest physical and mental shape of my life. My team in Vegas has sharpened me like a knife for this moment. On June 3, I will become Undisputed Champion!”
A two-time Olympic gold medalist throughout her storied amateur career, the 28-year-old Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) avenged her only amateur defeat last October when she traveled to the U.K. to win the WBO Middleweight Title from Savannah Marshall via unanimous decision. The Flint-native’s last fight in her home state of Michigan came in March 2021 as she bested Marie Eve Dicaire to become undisputed super welterweight world champion, her second undisputed distinction after originally unifying all the middleweight titles with a 2019 victory over then unbeaten Christina Hammer.
A native of Washington who now trains in Las Vegas under the tutelage of renowned trainer Ismael Salas, Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) enters this fight having won three-straight contests. She most recently fought in March as she stopped Sheila Cunha in the first round. The 36-year-old has previously challenged for world titles at middleweight and super middleweight, including a pair of close decision losses to undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Crews Dezurn in 2018 and 2019. Cornejo’s first world title opportunity came in just her sixth professional outing, as she dropped a razor thin split-decision to Kali Reis in April 2016.
Beterbiev-Smith set for August 19 in Canada
King Artur and his three world titles are coming home to Canada.
Montreal resident Artur Beterbiev, the unified WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight world champion, will defend his belts against WBC No. 1 contender Callum “Mundo” Smith on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Videotron Centre in Québec City, Canada.
Promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, Beterbiev-Smith and a co-feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The card will air live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
The August 19 event will be particularly significant for Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He has not fought in Québec City since he defended his IBF North American belt in 2015 against Gabriel Campillo.
“This is a momentous event for us, as we’re continually striving to bring major fights back to the province. We’re thrilled to be able to make this happen with the best boxer in the history of Québec, Artur Beterbiev, who will share the limelight with other EOTTM fighters. We hope that boxing fans will attend in droves, and that the evening will mark the beginning of a new era of boxing in Québec,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan.
“The legend of the sport’s most fearsome puncher, Artur Beterbiev, continues August 19 in beautiful Québec City for a fight that can’t help but be a light heavyweight championship classic,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Callum Smith is a deserving mandatory challenger who won’t be intimidated fighting on Artur’s home turf.”
“Québec 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.”
Smith said,“I’m excited to finally get my opportunity to become a two-weight world champion. 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.”
Beterbiev, a two-time Olympian, has lived in Montreal since turning pro a decade ago. He has made seven world title defenses since toppling Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF title in November 2017. 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’s only fought once in Canada as world champion, a ninth-round TKO over Marcus Browne in December 2021. Beterbiev followed up the Smith triumph with January’s thrilling eighth-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in Yarde’s hometown of London.
Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) is a former WBA super middleweight world champion who holds victories over George Groves, Hassan N’Dam and John Ryder. His championship run came to an end in December 2019, when he lost a one-sided decision to pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez in a title unification tilt. Smith moved up to light heavyweight following the Canelo defeat and notched knockout victories over Gilbert Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlique.
The full card for the Beterbiev-Smith event, which will also feature undefeated super middleweight Christian Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) and heavyweight puncher Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs), will be announced shortly. Local talents Wilkens Mathieu (2-0, 1 KOs), Leïla Beaudoin (9-1, 1 KO) and Clovis Drolet (13-1, 9 KOs) will also fight in front of their hometown supporters.