QUEBEC | Promoter Eddie Hearn tried to upset the Beterbiev clan on Thursday, but it didn't seem to work.
Background: After the press conference, he announced that Artur Beterbiev had been subjected to a doping test at the beginning of December, which produced atypical results. Subsequent tests revealed nothing.
“If the test had come back positive, the show would have been cancelled. There was an anomaly, we had three tests afterwards and everything was negative,” emphasized Beterbiev’s coach Marc Ramsay, shooting an arrow at the English promoter.
“He’s trying to play in our heads right now. What's special is that it comes from Eddie Hearn, the same guy who let my boxer Oscar Rivas in the ring with a doped guy, Dillian Whyte. I'm still waiting for the results of sample B, I never got them.
High stakes
We understand that there is a lot at stake and everyone wants to try to find their advantage. Beterbiev (19-0-0, 19 KOs) must defend his unified light heavyweight championship title (IBF, WBC, WBO) against Smith (29-1-0, 21 KOs), who is no prodigy.
The adopted Canadian is a batsman whose reputation is well known. His knockout rate. 100% proof. Beterbiev is particularly notable for his ability to wear his opponents down to the point of exhaustion, as he lands many punches and has exceptional physical endurance.
At 38, Beterbiev isn't getting any younger, but Ramsay assured on Thursday that he is in great shape and continues to make progress.
The fact is that it is a big test that he will undergo late Saturday evening.
Serious
Anyone who thinks Callum Smith will be easy prey should think again. He probably represents Beterbiev's biggest challenge since he started boxing.
Smith is powerful, hitting just as hard, if not harder, than his opponent of the day. Anyone who wants to see two big guys collide solidly will be served.
Smith has been out of the ring for 17 months, but it would be wrong to think he will be rusty. He completed the equivalent of three training camps.
And most importantly, before Smith moved up a category, he pushed Canelo Alvarez to the limit at 168 pounds. It deserves respect.
“He has good power, you have to be realistic. “He may not be the best puncher he's ever faced, but he's one of the good ones, he's fast, strong on the counter and has a good left hook,” noted Marc Ramsay.
Other belts
These aren't the only belts at stake. Christian Mbilli (25-0-0, 21 KOs) will attempt to defend his WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title against Australian Rohan Murdock (27-2-0, 19 KOs).
This is a confrontation that promises to be very interesting. Mbilli wants to win in hopes of getting a world championship fight and Murdock wants to win to change his young family's life.
We are also entitled to a world title defense with Australian Jason Moloney (26-0, 19 KOs), who will put his WBO bantamweight world championship belt on the line against American Saul Sanchez (20-2-2, 12 KOs). .
Also up for the final belt is Imam Khataev (5-0-0, 5 KOs), who will attempt to defend his NABF light heavyweight title against Poland's Michal Ludwiczak (17-12-1, 9 KOs).
Nice undercard
The undercard is also mouth-watering, with a nice lineup of local boxers.
At super featherweight, Leila Beaudoin (10-1-0, 1 KO) will look to avenge her only career loss in a rematch against Mexico's Elizabeth Espinoza (4-5-3, 1 KO). O.).
Quebec super middleweight Wilkens Mathieu (5-0-0, 3 KOs) returns home against José Arias Alvarez (3-1-0, 1 KOs), while Mehmet Unal (7-0-0, 6 KOs) faces The Italian Dragan Lepei (22-6-2, 10 KOs) will compete in the light heavyweight division.
At the start of the card, Christopher Guerrero (9-0-0, 5 KOs) meets Mexican Sergio Herrera (7-3-0, 4 KOs) in a welterweight bout and finally Moreno Fendero (2-0-0, 1 KOs). in the middleweight division against the Mexican Victor Hugo Flores (7-2-0, 3 KOs).