MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Russia’s unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will hold his title defense bout against British boxer Callum Smith on January 13, 2024, Russian fight promotion company Top Rank’s press office announced on its account on the X social network (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday.
According to the press office, the fight will be held next January in Canada’s Quebec City.
The much-anticipated bout was initially scheduled for August 19 of this year, but it was postponed indefinitely on July 30 following reports that Beterbiev was suffering from health problems.
The Talksport.com website reported that the Russian boxing champion allegedly "underwent surgery on his jaw after suffering an infection as a result of dental work."
Russia’s 38-year-old Beterbiev has never suffered defeat in his professional boxing career, winning all 19 of his fights by knockout. He is currently the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Confederation (WBC), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Heavyweight (under 79.38 kg) champion .
Great Britain’s Callum John Smith, aka "Mundo," is 33 years old and boasts a professional boxing record of 29 wins (21 by KO) and one defeat.