Three of the four major world titles are at stake this Saturday evening at the Centre Videotron in Quebec, Canada, as Artur Beterbiev defends his WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight titles against dangerous Britain’s WBC mandatory challenger, Callum Smith.
Sky Sports televise Beterbiev vs Smith live the UK, while ESPN+ have the USA rights.
This one should have taken place last August, but Beterbiev was forced to withdraw, requiring dental surgery.
Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) has been looking to face WBA ‘super’ champion, Dmitry Bivol for some time, but promotional red tape and sanctioning body obligations have gotten in the way.
At 38, time isn’t on his side and he has showed signs of slowing down of late. The Russian-born Canadian became IBF world champion in 2017, knocking Enrico Koelling out in the final round, and after two defences, he added the WBC crown in October 2019 with a tenth round stoppage of Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Philadelphia.
The WBO bauble was secured in June 2022, as Joe Smith Jr was blasted out inside two rounds, and Beterbiev has only been out once more since that win.
That was last January, where Anthony Yarde was expected to be outgunned at the SSE Arena, Wembley, but he took the champion to the wire, leading on two cards before Beterbiev found the heavy hands to force an eighth round stoppage.
He now faces former super middleweight world champion, Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), who has looked solid at light heavyweight thus far.
The 33-year-old’s world title came in Jeddah in 2018, when he ruthlessly knocked out George Groves in seven rounds to win the WBC super middleweight belt, and the World Boxing Super Series, and he defended twice before dropping his title in a decision loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in December 2020.
‘Mundo’ hasn’t been seen since August 2022, where he hammered Mathieu Bauderlique to a fourth round knockout.
Prediction: I lean towards underdog Smith here, as the fresher man, and I can see him breaking Beterbiev down, to record a famous stoppage win in the later rounds.
Moloney defends world title against Sanchez
A second world title clash comes at bantamweight, where Jason Moloney defends his WBO belt for the first time against Saul Sanchez (20-2, 12 KOs).
Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) won the vacant title in May last year, taking a majority nod against Vincent Astrolabio.
Prediction: He should defend on the cards against Sanchez, who has never been past ten rounds as a professional.
Mbilli meets Murdock
Unbeaten French super middleweight, Christian Mbilli (25-0, 21 KOs) is climbing the ranks, and he can defend his WBC Continental Americas crown with a stoppage win in his scheduled ten rounder against Australia’s Rohan Murdock (27-2, 19 KOs).
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Remaining Undercard
The other ten rounder is at light heavyweight, where Imam Khataev (5-0, 5 KOs) can halt Joaquin Murrieta Lucio (12-12-3, 10 KOs).
In eight rounders, Christopher Guerrero (9-0, 5 KOs) can outpoint Sergio Garcia Herrera (7-3, 4 KOs) at welterweight, and Mehmet Unal (7-0, 6 KOs) can win early against Dragan Lepei (22-6-2, 10 KOs) at light heavyweight.
Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza (4-5-3, 1 KO) won clearly on the cards in May last year against Leila Beaudoin (10-1, 1 KO) and can repeat the feat here in their super featherweight clash.
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Moreno Fendero (2-0, 1 KO) should take a points win in his four rounder at super middleweight against Victor Hugo Flores (7-2, 3 KOs).
Also at super middleweight, 19-year-old Canadian, Wilkens Mathieu (5-0, 3 KOs) can notch another stoppage win over Jose Arias Alvarez (3-1, 1 KO).
