Nineteen wins, nineteen knockouts and a unified WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion: Artur Beterbiev dominates the boxing world. His prescription? Happiness!
At least, that’s what the boxer, of Russian descent and adopted Quebecer, claimed Thursday on the sidelines of his first duel with WBC No. 1 contender Callum Smith, who he will face on August 19 at the Videotron Center.
“It’s just luck. These 19 fights are a matter of luck. I win thanks to luck and I hope that luck continues,” he said while sitting next to his coach Marc Ramsay.
A few minutes later he added in front of the media.
“Of course we prepare, we do training camps, but without luck it means nothing. Luck is just as important as preparation.”
A little further, Ramsay grinned.
“It looks like he’s lucky,” he laughed at first. I think that was a bit sarcastic, there is a lot of work behind it. This makes me think… Recently, a young person in a gym asked him about his talent and he replied, “stop looking at the talent, look how hard I train.” The joke is a bit so. There’s a lot of work to do.”
A second home
The August 19 fight is of international importance and could have been shown in some major US markets such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles or New York or even Callum Smith’s native England.
But it was in Quebec City when Beterbiev decided this fight was going to happen. For the first time in nine years he will fight in his “second home”.
“I live here, my children speak French. I’ve been here for ten years and I can say that it’s my second home,” he says.
A wannabe who wants to spoil the party
Words that certainly didn’t move his opponent.
“I’ve always believed in my abilities. I have set the bar very high and I want to be the best in the world. Artur has three belts and I’ve seen a lot of his fights over the years and he’s not as invincible as some make it out to be. “I have the style to beat him,” assured Callum Smith.
Callum Smith and Artur Beterbiev posed in front of Château Frontenac on Thursday. Vincent Ether
Smith is certainly not the last to arrive. The 33-year-old boxer, who had a 29-1 record, suffered his only career loss on December 19, 2020 by unanimous decision to none other than Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
By Thursday, 4,968 tickets had found a buyer. The organization had set a target of 5,000 people and will now expand the space to allow more fans to attend the gala.