QUEBEC CITY, Canada (July 30, 2023) — WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s title defense against former super middleweight world champion Callum Smith—originally scheduled for Saturday, August 19, at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada—has been postponed due to a bone infection to Beterbiev’s jaw. He underwent surgery earlier today in Montreal, Canada.
Promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, information regarding a rescheduled date will be announced in due course.
Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), who resides in Montreal, is boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio. Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), the WBC’s mandatory challenger, has won two bouts by stoppage since dropping a decision in a 2020 title unification fight against Canelo Alvarez.
