Top Rank Presents: Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde
Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Beterbiev vs.Yarde will stream live this Saturday, Jan. 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. The event takes place at OVO Arena Wembley in London, England.
WBC, WBO and IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev(18-0, 18 KOs), will defend his belts against heavy-hitting British challenger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs). Beterbiev, boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, will be fighting professionally in the United Kingdom for the first time. Beterbiev ended his amateur career in London at the 2012 Olympic Games.
In addition to this action-packed championship, the undercard will feature Artem Dalakian (21-0,15 KOs) squaring off against David Jimenez (12-0, 9 KOs) in a riveting 12-rounder for the WBA Flyweight World Championship.
Calling the action will be Bernardo Osuna, Hall of Famer Andre Ward, and future Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley, Jr.
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Out Wednesday by Nick Parkinson: Anthony Yarde has no fear of Artur Beterbiev
Out Thursday by Tim Bradley: Breaking down the light heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde
Out Friday by Mark Kriegel: Why Artur Beterbiev has the best streak going in boxing
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Media Workout Notes: Light Heavyweight King Artur Beterbiev Readies for London Showdown Against Anthony Yarde
LONDON (Jan. 25, 2023) — King Artur is ready to light up London.
WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, will battle England’s big-punching Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) on Saturday evening at OVO Arena Wembley. Beterbiev-Yarde and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.
Beterbiev returns to London for the first time since he represented Russia at the 2012 Olympics. He lost a close decision to Oleksandr Usyk in the quarterfinals of the heavyweight bracket, which concluded his amateur career. Beterbiev has resided in Montreal for more than a decade and fought his first eight pro bouts in Canada. He captured the IBF title in 2017, claimed the WBC crown in 2019 with a thrilling knockout over Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and added the WBO strap last June with a second-round bludgeoning of Joe Smith Jr.
Yarde does not have Beterbiev’s amateur pedigree, but he holds a claim as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound fiercest punchers. He has won his last three bouts, including a 2021 fourth-round knockout over Lyndon Arthur, who toppled Yarde by split decision in 2020. Yarde fought for a world title once before, succumbing via an 11th-round knockout to Sergey Kovalev after nearly stopping Kovalev in the eighth round.
This is what the main event combatants had to say following Wednesday’s media workout.
Artur Beterbiev
“I had a good camp. I had good sparring. I will try to do my best.”
“My team and I always try to be ready for anything, any strategy.”
“I can’t compare {Yarde} to Joe Smith. It’s a different fight. Joe Smith had a belt at that time. It’s not comparable.”
On a potential Dmitry Bivol fight
“Right now, it’s Saturday night. I only think about Saturday night.”
Anthony Yarde
“If you look at what he’s accomplished so far, it’s amazing, and that’s what amps me up. So, again, I beat him, I deserve some respect.”
“I don’t look at what any other fighter has done {to him}. I don’t look at what he’s done to other fighters. Realistically, all you look at is style, but even that, you can’t take too much from. You only know once you step in there with a person, and you both shape up and you both start trading leather.”
“He’s never been in a situation where he’s lost. But for me, it’s all about me. That’s the way I am. That’s the way I operate. It’s about me and my legacy. He’s just the person with the belts.”
On the home crowd advantage
“I just feel like this one feels right. This one feels better. {The Sergey Kovalev fight} didn’t. All that matters is when we get in that ring. Everything that’s said before is all he said, she said possibilities and things like that. When we get in the ring, that’s when we’ll see.”
Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde, 12 rounds, Beterbiev’s WBC/IBF/WBO Light Heavyweight World Titles
Moses Itauma vs. Marcel Bode, 4 rounds, heavyweight
Artem Dalakian vs. David Jimenez, 12 rounds, Dalakian’s WBA Flyweight World Title
Karol Itauma vs. Ezequiel Maderna, 10 rounds, Vacant WBC International Light Heavyweight Title
# # #
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YARDE RULES OUT GOING GUNG-HO
WHILE ANTHONY YARDE is promising to bring fire and brimstone to his unified world title challenge against Artur Beterbiev on January 28, live on BT Sport, he insists he has no intention of neglecting the basics when it comes to doing so.
The big-hitting Londoner has previously stated that planned long-distance travel in fights is not really his thing and that the unbeaten Beterbiev can expect an onslaught at the OVO Arena, Wembley.
However, the 31-year-old light heavyweight contender has never been simply a crash, bang, wallop merchant. There is much more to his game than that. He works off a hurtful jab and picks his spots before detonating any bombs.
So don’t just expect him to just charge across the canvas on his night of destiny in North West London.
“How often do you see someone just go in there swinging?” asked the man with 22 KOs to his name from 23 wins as pro. “All the biggest knockout punchers, like GGG, he didn’t go in just hitting and trying to knock people out, he had a tactical approach.
“He’s got an excellent jab and used to wear down his opponents.
“Mike Tyson. People call him a brawler. Disrespectfully, for years. Only now people are starting to see the more technical side of his boxing and are saying this guy was a masterful counter-puncher.
“Even early in your career when you are fighting people you are ‘meant to beat’, you find prospects struggling with these guys because you don’t just go in and knock someone out. It doesn’t work like that. It is boxing, it is an art.
“You’ve got to pick someone apart and then land the shots. I said this early on, my thing is I am a powerful, accurate puncher. I find the shot and, when I find it and land it, people are going to feel it.”
Yarde has done his best to resist sweeping change to his style as he climbed the levels in the pro ranks. Fighters, quite naturally, adapt their game plans as the danger increases, but the key, according to the Ilford man, is not changing in response to credentials being doubted from the outside.
“It is a mixture because, in my mind, I said I don’t want to run into the unknown. But, at the same time, I don’t want to have somebody else’s career. That is what happens in boxing and people are telling you, you should be doing this, you should be doing that.
“If I listened to everyone that was saying things I would not be where I am today. When I started boxing people said all sorts of things until I would do it.
“It is a compromise, you can’t please everybody, in boxing or any sport, really.
“When Mike Tyson was knocking out everybody, I remember watching one of his fights with the commentary on and they said that people were starting to say he was fighting nobodies. People are always going to have something to say.
“Then when he went 10 rounds they said he was not the real deal, after all. So you can’t win. If you go 10, win every round and don’t get hit, they say the guy you fought was nothing, but he didn’t knock him out like we wanted to see. When you do get the stoppage, some people say you knocked him out too early, ‘what is he learning from that?’.
“He is learning how to knock someone out! That is what he’s doing.
“That is my thing as well, the more I knock people out, the more I have learned how to do it in different ways. That is the way I see it.”
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport. The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez.
Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher.
The show also features the highly-anticipated professional debut of World Youth Champion Moses Itama.
Below is the Fight Week schedule ahead of Saturday’s Fight Night at OVO Arena, live on BT Sport.
All media are welcome to attend the fight week events, but please fill out the form below so you are on the media guestlist:
Media Workouts When: Wednesday 25th January Where: Grand Hall at The Drum, Wembley Address: Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ Timings: 11.30am arrivals, 12:00pm start Entry: Open to the public, free entry Running Order: • 12:00 – Masood Abdulah • 12:10 – Josh Frankham • 12:20 – Umar Khan • 12:30 – Charles Frankham • 12:40- Sean Noakes • 12:50 – Khalid Ali • 13:00 – Tommy Fletcher • 13:10 – Karol Itauma • 13:20 – David Jimenez • 13:30 – Artem Dalakian • 13:40 – Moses Itauma • 13:50 – Anthony Yarde • 14:00 – Artur Beterbiev
Final Press Conference(s) When: Thursday 26th January Where: Grand Hall at The Drum, Wembley Address: Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ Timings: 11am for an 11:30am start for the Undercard Press Conference, 1pm start for Main Event Press Conference Entry: Media only Participants: Artur Beterbiev, Anthony Yarde, Artem Dalakian, David Jimenez, Karol Itauma, Moses Itauma, plus promoters and trainers
Official Weigh-In When: Friday 27th January Where: Grand Hall at The Drum, Wembley Address: Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ Timings: 1pm arrivals, fighters on the scales at 2pm Entry: Open to the public, free entry
Fight Night When: Saturday 28th January Where: OVO Arena, Wembley Address: Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA Timings: Doors open at 4:30pm, first fight at 5pm* Entry: Media accreditation collection from Media Entrance at the Box Office *Media Accreditation collection ends at 8:30pm
BETERBIEV SHRUGS OFF YARDE’S USYK ASSISTANCE
ARTUR BETERBIEV OFFERED up a nonchalant response when questioned over his former amateur rival providing some words of advice to his forthcoming opponent Anthony Yarde ahead of the world light heavyweight title clash at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28.
British challenger Yarde was perched next to the unified heavyweight champion Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December while Tyson Fury was quashing the threat of his old rival Derek Chisora.
He claimed the Ukrainian gave him some tips on how to go about taking on the formidable Canadian-based Russian.
Beterbiev was edged out by Usyk at both the 2011 World Championship and the 2012 London Olympics.
“I don’t know,” said the 37-year-old Beterbiev with a chuckle when asked if a few pearls of wisdom from Usyk would help Yarde in his quest to part him from the WBC, WBO and IBF world title belts.
“If it helps him, then good for him. What can Usyk give him?”
It was suggested that Usyk could impart the benefit of experience from fighting him.
“And?” said a still smiling Beterbiev, who was a little bit more forthcoming when it came to explaining why, when he stepped up to light heavyweight, Canelo Alvarez opted to challenge Dmitrii Bivol for one world title belt, rather than himself for two, at the time.
“Why do you think? You need to ask Canelo, not me. How can I answer this one? If it was a fight that came to me I would take it, but I am not dreaming about this fight.”
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport. The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez.
Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher.
The show also features the highly-anticipated professional debut of World Youth Champion Moses Itama.
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.
YARDE NOT INTERESTED IN POINT SCORING
ANTHONY YARDE DISCOVERED in just his second amateur fight that playing for points and attempting to impress the judges is not for him. Yarde, of course, is set for a second tilt at world title glory when he takes on the unbeaten unified champion Artur Beterbiev at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport, having overcome professional setbacks against Sergey Kovalev and Lyndon Arthur.
The self-styled ‘Beast from the East’ of the capital famously enjoyed limited amateur experience of just 12 fights before blasting onto the pro scene back in 2015. It meant he was not moulded into a textbook light heavyweight or took onboard too many amateur traits that required drilling out of him.
In fact, he flatly refused requests from his amateur coach Tony Cesay to adopt a more patient approach to his work, which resulted in him having only the dozen unpaid fights. “It was the timeframe as well, I started boxing late,” added Yarde, now 31. “I had my first amateur fight when I was 19, I got into boxing at 18 and I didn’t have no junior bouts, no schoolboys, just straight into adult boxing.
“I think Tunde (trainer/manager, Ajayi) would agree with this. When I met Tunde I had a style-base already, based on people I had watched, people I wanted to mimic or re-mix. I feel like Tunde helped me evolve my boxing skill as I was very powerful.
“As an amateur I trained with Tony Cesay up until around seven fights in and, even as a professional, he used to come and join some of our sessions as well. From when I started boxing Tony used to say to me ‘you are sitting on your shots too much, you’re being flat-footed, you need to be in and out. Yes, you are powerful, but you need to be in and out, in and out’.
“I replied to him saying ‘Tone, I want to be a great professional boxer, not a good amateur. I know what you are saying, but I’ve got a plan in my head. I’m going to knock out everybody’.
“He said I couldn’t do that because I wouldn’t get any fights. In my first fight I knocked the guy out – we are friends now – then I couldn’t get a fight for three months. Tony said, ‘You see, because of your physique, the way you look, and you knocked out somebody, no-one wants to fight you’.
“So, in the second fight I boxed the guy. I still won, it was clear I won, Ohara Davies was there shouting the place down and, when they announced the other guy as the winner, he had a bloody nose, a bruised eye… They gave him the decision on their show, an army show, and afterwards the guy came into my changing room and tried to give me his medal, saying ‘you won that’.
“I said to keep it because now I was upset. If I got no fights, I got no fights, and after that I knocked out everyone I fought in the amateurs. So, I always wanted to have that great professional boxing style.”
And therein lies the lesson. Playing the longer game is not for him.
Yarde admits that he listened to the doubters who questioned whether he could go the full 12 rounds ahead of his maiden world title challenge against the long-standing Russian champion.
Against his better judgement, he bided his time and did the same thing when he first came up against Lyndon Arthur.
The spectacular outcome of the rematch with Arthur demonstrated which method of boxing works for Yarde and it isn’t a cagey, calculated approach. “Fact. That is what I’m trying to say. I don’t think it is to do with anyone but myself. I had a mindset when I started boxing and, the second I tried to change it or listen to people asking if I could go 12 rounds, I went away from what I knew.
“I know why the Kovalev fight didn’t go my way, I know why the fight didn’t go my way in the amateurs, I know why they gave the decision to Lyndon Arthur in the first fight.
“When all these things happened, it was when I went against my natural instinct and what I said I was going to do from the beginning. “After that first fight with Lyndon Arthur I said ‘no more games, I know exactly what I’m going to do. And I’m going to do it’. “It is like back to the future.”
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport. The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez.
Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher. Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.
THE ITAUMAS: MOSES MEETS THE MEDIA / MAIDEN TITLE BECKONS FOR KAROL
WORLD YOUTH HEAVYWEIGHT champion Moses Itauma formally announced his professional debut today when he met the media ahead of his big night on 28 January at the OVO Arena, Wembley on the undercard of the unified world light heavyweight title showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde.
Ituma, just turned 18, was confirmed as Queensberry’s future heavyweight force with the signing of a long-term promotional agreement in the wake of his World Championship triumph in November.
The younger brother of elite light heavyweight prospect Karol also won gold at the Schools, Juniors and Youth Europeans. Moses is a two-time National champion, a Multi-Nation BoxCup winner and was unbeaten in 24 fights as an amateur.
He will now see action for the first time in the professional ranks on the same card as his unbeaten sibling, who will fight for his first title on the show.
“It has been our dream since we were young so it will definitely be special,” said Itauma on the Wembley family affair. “It will be the best time of my life, really, me and my brother boxing on the same show. Especially with it being in London, which isn’t too far from where we live.”
“I came off Covid and not having any fights at all, to having the most fights I have ever had and now signing here makes it even better.
“I want to have around eight fights this year. I want to become the youngest ever world heavyweight champion and beat Mike Tyson’s record of 20 years, four months and 22 days.
“I’ve sparred with Lawrence Okolie, Joe Joyce, Anthony Joshua and everyone on the British scene. More often than not I have held my own.
“I am very confident in my ability and now I just want to see the difference between the pros and the amateurs. I want to be part of history and, when boxing is done for me, I want to be up there amongst the biggest names.
“The record is something I am chasing down, but I won’t be beating Mike Tyson’s record if I don’t win my pro debut.”
Tickets to see Moses Itauma make his pro debut on the undercard of Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.
Sitting alongside his younger brother at the BT Sport studios was the former Olympic Youth champion Karol, who will bid to win a first title in the professional ranks when he goes up against Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna from Argentina for the WBC International light heavyweight title at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28.
The classy 22-year-old will hit double figures as a pro in North West London, having built up a perfect 9-0 record to date, with seven of the wins coming via stoppage. He fought four times across 2022 and two of his fights took place on Tyson Fury undercards at Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Maderna, 28-10 (18 KOs), has kept good company in the ring over the course of his 14-year professional career. He is a four-time winner of the Argentinean super middleweight title and he made an unsuccessful challenge for the IBO world title in 2013, losing on points to Thomas Oosthuizen.
The now 36-year-old subsequently won the WBC Latino title in 2013 before taking on and suffering a fourth round stoppage against a then 9-0 Artur Beterbiev in Montreal in mid-2016.
In the same year he won the WBC Latino belt at light heavyweight by defeating Walter Gabriel Sequeira before returning to super middle and making an unsuccessful challenge for the WBA Continental title in Moscow against Fedor Chudinov.
“Like I have said all along, my coach does all the homework and I just try and implement things in the ring,” said Itauma of the man standing in the way of his first title triumph. “He has mentioned that he is experienced but that is what it takes to progress and move up the ladder.
“I need this kind of fight. I wouldn’t say the title has made much difference to me in preparations because the prize is just a bonus and, if anything, a cherry on top. The fight is like any other fight in that you go in there to come out victorious. The title is a little extra thing and sometimes you can think about it too much, which can bring pressure, so there is no point in thinking about it like that.
“I am excited for it though and, obviously, I am going to be there with my brother. It is crazy because during our whole amateur boxing career we never boxed on the same night. So to be able to share a night together where it is his debut and my first title fight is very special.
“It was an emotional roller coaster watching him win his world championship out in Spain, so I can’t bear to think what it will be like watching him as a pro. I know what he is capable of though and it is all in his hands.
“He is going to make statements and shock the world.”
Tickets to see Moses Itauma make his pro debut and Karol Itauma fight for his first pro title on the undercard of Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.
WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE LANDS AT WEMBLEY ON YARDE’S BIG NIGHT
THE WBA WORLD flyweight championship clash between the champion Artem Dalakian from Ukraine and Costa Rican challenger David Jiminez will take place in support of the forthcoming Artur Beterbiev-Anthony Yarde blockbuster at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport.
Ilford man Yarde challenges for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles held by the undefeated Montreal resident, who holds a record of 18 wins with all 18 coming via a stoppage.
Dalakian, 35, won his world title belt in February 2018 with a points victory over Brian Viloria and has subsequently made five successful defences. He is unbeaten in 21 professional fights, with 15 of his wins coming via stoppage.
Jiminez, 30, has previously won the WBA Latino title and the WBA Gold world flyweight championship and is unbeaten in 12, with nine KOs.
Also on the bill and in title action against opponents to be confirmed shortly, light heavyweight star in the making Karol Itauma (9-0, 7 KOs) will fight for a first professional belt with the WBC International title being on the line and, also at light heavy, Willy Hutchinson (15-1, 11) will battle for the WBO Intercontinental championship.
A clutch of Queensberry’s top young prospects have secured a spot on the card.
The prospects on parade are 11-times National champion as an amateur, Charles Frankham, who was also a World Youth Championship bronze medallist and winner of gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.
The 23-year-old Charles – known as ‘Boom Boom’ – is currently 6-0 in the professional ranks and making significant improvements under the guidance of new trainer Roger Lee.
Charles’ first cousin, Joshua Frankham, will also feature at Wembley, with the four-times National champion and former England international having his seventh professional fight after illness ruled him out of a November appearance at The O2.
Big-hitting cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher will have his fourth pro fight. The 20-year-old ‘Norfolk Nightmare’ has sent ripples through the division with three mighty knockouts to date, with two of them coming in the first round.
Last time out in November he poleaxed the Czech Jiri Krejci with a punishing left uppercut to close his show at The O2.
The 5-0 featherweight Umar Khan, 20, returns to action after impressing at York Hall in November with a shutout victory over Alexander Taylor, along with the hugely popular Brick Lane southpaw Khalid Ali.
The 4-0 ‘Bengal Tiger’ was last in the ring back in September when he outpointed Dario Borosa via a 60-54 margin at York Hall.
Another welterweight, Sean Noakes, will have his fourth fight as a professional after a successful first year of three four-rounders that resulted in two shutout victories and a second round stoppage for the Maidstone man.
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday 28 January 2023 are on sale now from AXS.com.
UNIFIED LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT RULER ARTUR BETERBIEV TO DEFEND CROWN AGAINST KNOCKOUT KING ANTHONY YARDE IN LONDON
The 175-pound showdown will be shown on BT Sport in the UK and on ESPN+ in the U.S.
London calls for the light-heavyweight king. WBC, WBO and IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his belts against big-punching British challenger Anthony Yarde at the OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday, January 28.
The WBO No.1 contender gets his shot at the Montreal-based Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He will be fighting professionally in the United Kingdom for the first time, with the highly decorated former amateur having fought in London at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry, in association with Top Rank, this huge 175-pound showdown will be shown exclusively on BT Sport in the UK and streaming live and exclusive on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at The O2 on Saturday 28 January 2023 go on general sale at 11am on Thursday 24 November from AXS.com and ticketmaster.co.uk.
“This will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of Anthony’s career to date, and we have made sure he will get the best conditions possible by securing him home advantage,” said Yarde’s promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry. “It is going to be a huge occasion at the OVO Arena Wembley, which is the same venue where Anthony made his professional debut in May 2015.
“Of course, we know a great champion like Beterbiev has no fears of travelling and virtually all of his biggest wins have come outside his now home nation of Canada. Boxing is all about timing, and we are hoping the time is right for Anthony to fulfil his huge potential and pull off what would be one of the biggest wins by a British fighter.
“This is going to be a spectacular show staged in conjunction with our friends at Top Rank, and I am sure it is an event the public will get behind in massive numbers to support Anthony’s attempt to achieve his dream.”
“This is a matchup between two of the most devastating light heavyweight punchers, and I look forward to the great Artur Beterbiev showcasing his prodigious talent for the incredible UK fans,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Anthony Yarde was ringside for Artur’s last fight, and he certainly does not lack confidence. He is a dangerous fighter, and I know Artur will be switched on for one of the toughest bouts of his illustrious career.”
Beterbiev won his first world title in November 2017 with a 12th-round stoppage of Enrico Koelling and defended his IBF belt on two further occasions – including against Britain’s Callum Johnson – before entering into a unification match against WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Ukrainian puncher Gvozdyk, who was unbeaten at the time, was stopped in the 10th round.
Beterbiev defended his titles against Adam Deines and Marcus Browne ahead of a three-belt unification against WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. in June at Hulu Theater Madison Square Garden, where the American was stopped in two rounds. In the amateur ranks, Beterbiev won silver at the 2007 World Championships before striking gold at the 2009 event. He also won gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 European Championships.
“I never back down from a challenge, and Anthony Yarde is a top contender who asked for this fight. I look forward to fighting in London for the first time since the Olympics,” Beterbiev said. “Yarde called me ‘slow’ after my fight with Joe Smith Jr., but slow and steady wins the race. And on January 28, I will win in London.”
The Wembley event represents a second world title attempt from Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) who previously travelled to Chelyabinsk, Russia, to take on the long-standing champion Sergey Kovalev, ultimately being stopped in the 11th round after coming close to forcing a finish himself in the eighth round. Yarde’s first title came in fight No. 11 when he knocked out Chris Hobbs in four rounds for the Southern Area belt.
Yarde then fought seven consecutive fights with either the WBO European or Intercontinental belts at stake, or both, as Yarde knocked out each of those foes in seven rounds or less.
Post-Kovalev, Yarde continued with fights during the pandemic against Dec Spelman and a domestic dust-up against Lyndon Arthur. Yarde dropped a split decision against his Manchester rival, and after a swift comeback fight in Birmingham, Yarde sought redemption against Arthur. The vintage Yarde returned, and he knocked out Arthur in four rounds to once again earn the WBO No. 1 spot.
“January 28 will be my night,” said Yarde. “My destiny playing out in my home city, and this is what I have been longing for throughout my professional career, which started at Wembley. I won’t make any big predictions for this fight against a strong unified champion in Artur Beterbiev, but what I will say is that I will leave nothing to chance, and I am at my best when I fight fire with fire.”
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at The O2 on Saturday 28 January 2023 go on general sale at 11am on Thursday 24 November from AXS.com and ticketmaster.co.uk.
AUDIO: Nico Ali Walsh talks Beterbiev – Smith and his own career
VIDEO: Nico Ali Walsh talks Beterbiev – Smith and his own career
Beterbiev Stops Smith in 2; Unifies Three Light Heavyweight belts
Artur Beterbiev scored an emphatic second round stoppage over Joe Smith Jr. to defend his IBF/WBC and add the WBO Light Heavyweight titles at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
At the end of round one, Beterbiev landed a short right to the side of the head that sent Smith down to a knee. In round two, it was another right that put Smith down. Seconds later, Beterbiev landed a hard combination for a third knockdown. Beterbiev finished off the fight when he landed two uppercuts and a right that wobbled Smith to the ropes and the fight was stopped at 2:19
Beterbiev of Montreal, CAN is 18-0 with 18 knockouts. Smith if Long Island, NY is 28-4.
Ramirez Knocks Out Nova in 5
Robeisy Ramirez stopped previously undefeated Abraham Nova in round five of their 10-round featherweight bout.
In round five, Ramirez landed a big left hand that put Nova flat on his back and the fight was over at 2:20.
Ramirez of Ciemfugos, CUB is 10-1 with six knockouts. Nova of Albany, NY is 21-1.
Bruce Carrington stopped Adrian Leyva after round five of their six-round featherweight bout.
Leyva was cut over his left eye in round five, and the bout was just stopped just as the sixth round was about to commence.
Carrington of Brooklyn, NY is 4-0 with three knockouts. Leyva of Guantanamo, CUB is 3-3-1.
Jahi Tucker remained undefeated with fourth round stoppage over D’Andre Smith in a welterweight contest.
The time was 2:27 for Tucker of Deer Park, NY who is now8-0 with five knockouts. Smith of Atlanta, GA is 10-2.
Floyd Diaz remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Danil Plantonovschi in a junior featherweight bout.
Diaz of Las Vegas won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 5-0. Plantonovschi of Brooklyn is 4-1.
Troy Isley stopped Donte Stubbs in the sixth and final round of their middleweight fight.
At the end of of round four, Isley dropped Stubbs with a perfect right to the jaw. In round six, Isley landed a perfect right that sent Stubbs to the canvas. Stubbs wobbled to his feet and the fight was stopped at
Isley of Alexandria, VA is 6-0 with four knockouts. Stubbs of Riverside, CA is 6-6.
Wendy Toussaint won a eight-round unanimous decision over Asinia Byfield in a junior middleweight fight.
Toussaint of Huntington, NY won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and is now 14-1. Byfield of Reading, ENG is 15-5-1.
Jahyae Brown won a six-round unanimous decision over Keane McMahon in a junior middleweight bout.
Brown of Schenectady, NY won by scores of 60-54 and 58-56 twice and is now 11-0. McMahon of Dyblin, IRE is 7-3.
AUDIO: Bob Arum Breaks down Artur Beterbiev – Joe Smith Jr. Unification bout
VIDEO: Bob Arum Breaks down Artur Beterbiev – Joe Smith Jr. Unification bout
AUDIO: WBO Light Heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. talks Artur Beterbiev Unification bout
VIDEO: WBO Light Heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. talks Artur Beterbiev Unification bout
VIDEO: Promoter Joe DeGuardia talks about Joe Smith against Artur Beterviev
VIDEO: Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr | OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Weigh-In Results: Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr.
• Artur Beterbiev 175 vs. Joe Smith Jr. 174.6 (WBC/IBF/WBO Light Heavyweight World Titles — 12 Rounds)
• Robeisy Ramirez 125.8 lbs vs. Abraham Nova 125.4 lbs (Vacant USBA and WBO Global Featherweight Titles — 10 Rounds)
(ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)
• Bruce Carrington 127.4 lbs vs. Adrian Leyva 127.4 lbs (Featherweight— 6 Rounds)
• Jahi Tucker 147.8 lbs vs. D’Andre Smith 147.6 lbs (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)
• Jahyae Brown 153.2 lbs vs. Keane McMahon 152.6 lbs (Junior Middleweight — 6 Rounds)
Press Conference Notes: Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. Ready to Unify Light Heavyweight Titles
NEW YORK (June 16, 2022) — Two of the light heavyweight division’s fiercest punchers will put three world title belts at stake in one of the year’s most anticipated showdowns. WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) — boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio — will take on Long Island’s WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) Saturday evening at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
In the highly anticipated 10-round featherweight co-feature, two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (9-1, 5 KOs) steps up against the unbeaten Abraham “El Super” Nova (21-0, 15 KOs). Ramirez has won nine straight bouts since a shocking loss in his pro debut, while Nova has settled in at featherweight after spending the first five-plus years of his career campaigning at junior lightweight
Beterbiev-Smith Jr. and Ramirez-Nova will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m PT) and includes the return of featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (3-0, 2 KO), the latest standout to come from Brownsville, Brooklyn. Carrington made his pro debut on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard last October, signed with Top Rank later that year, and has won two fights thus far in 2022. In March, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, he scored a highlight-reel knockout over Yeuri Andujar.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, a limited number of tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com.
At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had to say.
Bob Arum
“At my age, this fight brings me back so many decades to when Top Rank promoted the leading light heavyweights in the world like Bob Foster, Matthew Saad Muhammad, John Conteh, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Marvin Johnson. The light heavyweight division has given people who follow boxing great thrills for as long as I’ve been promoting fights. Now we have this fight, which will go into the annals like all the great light heavyweight fights of the past and may even be the one that is the greatest.”
“Joe Smith is a tremendous fighter. He has a big heart. He has a lot of skills and a lot of punching power. And what can I say about Artur Beterbiev? He really epitomizes the ferocity that light heavyweights have been known for. Tremendous puncher. Big heart. A guy who refuses to lose. Nothing can be better than this. I predict that this fight will be considered the Fight of the Year for 2022.”
Artur Beterbiev
“This is a very important fight for me. With regard to the place, it’s not different for me. I’m more focused on the fight. I’m more focused on my opponent, not on the place. I always ask my boxing coach and my conditioning coach about how I’m doing. I ask them if it’s less than I was doing two years ago. They tell me that I’m doing better than two years ago.”
“If we compare it to the last one, this camp went very well. This camp was better. I want to thank my team, my conditioning coach, my boxing coach, all my team and all my sparring partners who helped me. We had a good camp.”
“We are both ready for this fight. I think it’s going to be a good fight. We will see. I can’t predict the future. I’m just a boxer.”
Joe Smith Jr.
“This is a huge opportunity. Beterbiev is a huge name in boxing. Everyone knows who he is at this point. He has two world titles, and I want those belts. I believe this fight is going to be great. You’ve got two big punchers, and I’m just excited to be in there with him. He’s a great name.”
“I’m fighting at the Garden. Home is not too far from here. All my fans are going to be here to support me or, if not, watch at home. I’m just glad to be here defending my WBO title and unifying two other belts.”
“I believe this guy is in his prime right now. I don’t think age has anything to do with it. I know he’s here at 100 percent and ready to go. I know I’m here fighting one of the best, so I trained at 110 percent. I made this camp a little longer. I made sure that I improved things that I wasn’t doing at my best. I stayed more consistent with my training, so I feel comfortable about this weekend.”
Robeisy Ramirez
“My level increases with the quality of opponent that I have in front of me. So, I think my growth is due to me increasing the level of my opposition and because we’ve been increasing our work, both mentally and physically.”
“We decided to take this fight because it would lead to a title shot. We all know who Abraham is. We all know the kind of record he has. So, a victory would put us one step away from fighting for a title. This was the step we wanted to take and the fight we were looking for. We weren’t looking to make a fight that wasn’t this one.”
“We didn’t make any adjustments. We did the kind of training camp that we would do for any other fight. At the end of the day, he is an opponent who has two arms and will be boxing. So, we just have to be prepared physically and go out there and work.”
Abraham Nova
“I’ve been trying to fight for a world title at 130, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity. I felt like there was a lot of political things going on. So, I decided to go down to 126 and see if I could make a run. I wanted the {Emanuel} Navarrete fight, but I guess he didn’t want the fight, so Robeisy was next in line. I feel like a win over him puts me in line for a title shot.”
“I feel like I’m being overlooked. People haven’t seen the best of me. In fights, I do this and I do that, but I always fix them. You guys are going to see a complete ‘Supernova’ on Saturday night. I promise that.”
“It’s always business as usual. In training camp, I did a lot of adjustments. He’s a lefty. I’m a righty. So, I had to get lefty sparring partners. I had different sparring partners every week. We have a great game plan, and I’m ready to execute it on Saturday night.”
Bruce Carrington
“It feels great to once again be fighting in this historic arena. I’m highly blessed to have back-to-back fights in my hometown as well. This is a great experience for me, and I’m ready to tackle this head-on. As a fighter, you should always get better than your last fight, so giving my folks and fans something new to see is definitely something I plan on doing this Saturday.”
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr., 12 rounds, WBC/IBF/WBO Light Heavyweight World Titles
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Abraham Nova, 10 rounds, Vacant USBA & WBO Global Featherweight Titles
ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)
Bruce Carrington vs. Adrian Leyva, 6 rounds, featherweight
Jahi Tucker vs. D’Andre Smith, 6 rounds, welterweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Daniil Platonovschi, 6/4 rounds, junior featherweight
Troy Isley vs. Donte Stubbs, 6 rounds, middleweight
Kieran Molloy vs. Jonathan Ryan Burrs, 4 rounds, junior middleweight
Wendy Toussaint vs. Asinia Byfield, 8 rounds, junior middleweight
Jahyae Brown vs. Keane McMahon, 6 rounds, junior middleweight
Fight Week: Light Heavyweight Champions Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. Ready for NYC Title Unification Showdown
NEW YORK (June 15, 2022) — In three days, one man will hold three light heavyweight world titles. WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) will battle Long Island’s WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday evening at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The victor will be one step closer to attaining undisputed champion status.
Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian who now calls Canada home, is the only world champion in boxing with a 100 percent knockout ratio. He has been a world champion since 2017 and is widely regarded as the division’s top fighter. Smith, a one-time union laborer, cemented his “Rocky” story when he defeated Maxim Vlasov in April 2021 to win the WBO title. He defended that title in January with a ninth-round stoppage over Steve Geffrard.
Before fight night, catch up on the action behind the scenes with the two-part Blood, Sweat and Tears: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr.Part 1 & Part 2 are available to view on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe to Top Rank’s YouTube Channel for episodes of Top Rank Real Time, which gives fans a closer look at fight week festivities.
Thursday, June 16
PRESS CONFERENCE: Featuring Beterbiev, Smith Jr., Robeisy Ramirez, Abraham Nova, and Bruce Carrington.
1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
Live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube/Twitter pages
Friday, June 17
Max on Boxing Live Weigh-In Show: Beterbiev vs. Smith Jr.
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Live on ESPN2 and Top Rank’s YouTube/Twitter pages
Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr., 12 rounds, WBC/IBF/WBO Light Heavyweight World Titles
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Abraham Nova, 10 rounds, Vacant USBA & WBO Global Featherweight Titles
ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)
Bruce Carrington vs. Adrian Leyva, 6 rounds, featherweight
Jahi Tucker vs. D’Andre Smith, 6 rounds, welterweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Daniil Platonovschi, 6/4 rounds, junior featherweight
Troy Isley vs. Donte Stubbs, 6 rounds, middleweight
Kieran Molloy vs. Jonathan Ryan Burrs, 4 rounds, junior middleweight
Wendy Toussaint vs. Asinia Byfield, 8 rounds, junior middleweight
Jahyae Brown vs. Keane McMahon, 6 rounds, junior middleweight
BEATING THE ODDS: BOOKMAKERS DISCOUNT JOE SMITH JR. BUT THE “COMMON MAN” RELISHES IN THE UNDERDOG ROLE AS STARS ALIGN FOR ANOTHER MASSIVE UPSET WIN ON JUNE 18!
New York, New York (June 15, 2022) – The word underdog and Joe Smith Jr. seem to be synonymous. When WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion JOE SMITH JR. (28-3 22KO’s) steps in the ring for the biggest fight of his life on Saturday, June 18, he will be facing a boxing thoroughbred and brutal Russian powerhouse, in the WBC and IBF World Champion, ARTUR BETERBIEV(17-0 17KO’s). When Vegas oddsmakers opened its books upon the fight’s announcement, Smith in spite of being a world champion, with tremendous credentials himself, was once again listed as an underdog (a huge 8 to 1 underdog)! For non-gamblers, this means, with the spread, if you were to bet $100 dollars on a Smith victory on June 18, you would win $800.
This is not the first, nor the second, third or even fourth time Joe Smith Jr. finds himself as the underdog in a major fight. Back on June 18, 2016, on a magical night in Chicago, IL as a relative unknown, Smith burst onto the boxing scene with a spectacular, nationally televised first round knockout of then #2 world ranked light heavyweight, ANDRZEJ FONFARA. Entering the fight, Smith was a 20 to 1 long shot to beat hometown favorite Fonfara, yet Smith beat the odds emphatically (KO-1). Yes, for those of you that are superstitious, Smith burst on the scene as a 20-1 underdog exactly 6 years to the date that he will be fighting Artur Beterbiev, on the magical date of June 18th.
Next Smith was handpicked by boxing legend and multi-time world champion, BERNARD HOPKINSfor the final fight of his illustrious career in Los Angeles, CA. The final fight became a nightmare instead of a dream farewell for the legend when Smith landed a six-punch combination that dramatically put Hopkins out on his feet, sending him through the ropes, and onto The Forum floor for an 8th-round KO victory. Entering the fight, Smith was also an 8 to 1 underdog, yet not only did he beat Hopkins, but Smith beat the oddsmakers once again.
Over the next two years, Smith battled like a warrior for most of the ten rounds with a broken jaw against Sullivan Barrera, then picked up a comeback win against Melvin Russell in his next bout and ultimately fought Dmitry Bivol in his first world title challenge. A tenth-round overhand bomb by Smith had Bivol wobbling back to his corner, but he was saved by the bell. Bivol defended his title, and Smith went back to the drawing board.
“The Common Man” would not be deterred and with a renewed vigor, experience and determination, found himself on the main stage for a light heavyweight showdown with JESSE HARTon ESPN. Smith was a 3 to 1 underdog against Hart, who was being touted as a major player at 175 lbs. Instead, Smith imposed his will and strength on Hart, battering and eventually dropping Hart in the seventh round in a dominating and impressive performance. Smith yet again beat the odds.
With that victory, Star Boxing proudly entered Smith into a WBO Light Heavyweight Title elimination bout where he clashed with former world champion ELEIDER ALVAREZ at the MGM Grand Bubble, in Las Vegas. Smith put on a show that caught the attention of the boxing world. Landing 125 of his 369 punches thrown as opposed to Alvarez who landed just 51 of 125 punches thrown, Smith thoroughly dominated the former world champion in a career defining performance. It was clear Smith had advanced tremendously since the Bivol loss. He launched Alvarez through the ropes courtesy of a brutal right hand which earned him a ninth-round KO and a second world title shot. Yes, Smith was 3 to 1 underdog for the Alvarez fight, yet he beat Alvarez, and, once again, the oddsmakers.
Smith went on to win the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title in an absolute war over MAXIM VLASOV in Tulsa, OK in April of 2021, and successfully defended his title against late replacement STEVE GEFFRARDat Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY in January of 2022, both of which were broadcast live on ESPN.
Now, on June 18th, Smith embarks on yet another challenge in the three-belt world title unification bout in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden live on ESPN. He finds himself once again as the underdog. Beterbiev has earned the name “The King,” for being the only professional boxing champion with a perfect KO ratio of 17 wins, with 17 knockouts. He is regarded as the most dangerous fighter in the world.
Most would feel the weight of the world on their shoulder having to constantly carry the ‘prove them wrong mentality’ but for Smith, it makes him who he is, “I enjoy being the underdog.” He said. “I would rather be the underdog because it makes me want to push harder, makes me want to prove everyone wrong.”
While Beterbiev’s reputation may very well proceed him, “The Common Man” Joe Smith Jr. has beat the odds before and will look to do so once more – this time by slaying “The King” for light heavyweight supremacy.
Beterbiev-Smith is promoted by Top Rank and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and will take place Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden live on ESPN, ESPN + and ESPN DEPORTES.
JOE SMITH JR. GOING FULL SPEED IN PREPARATIONS FOR ARTUR BETERBIEV UNIFIED SHOWDOWN
Long Island, NY (June 1, 2022) — WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion, The “COMMON MAN” JOE SMITH JR, (28-3, 22 KOs), is continuing to ramp up his training in preparation for the highly anticipated three-belt unification battle with IBF/WBC Champion ARTUR BETERBIEV, (17-0, 17 KOs) on Saturday, June 18 in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The Long Island native Smith, promoted for many years by JOE DEGUARDIA (Star Boxing) will be making the second defense of his world title earned on April 10, 2021 by defeating top rated contender Maxim Vlasov. His first defense of the title came against Steve Geffrard on January 15, 2022.
Working with longtime trainer JERRY CAPOBIANCO, Smith is very happy with his training camp for this fight.
“We stayed home as we always do, we have everything we need right here on Long Island,” said the hard-hitting Smith. “Every camp we add in different things that work for me to make me a better boxer and I’ve improved greatly the last few years. That and my conditioning has improved which has helped me to have strong second halves of fights.”
“Last Sunday I was out on the beach working by digging holes and running with a parachute in the sand. It’s a little different but great for my strength and conditioning. I know I’ll be fully prepared for Beterbiev on June 18.”
Screen Shot 2022-06-01 at 4.15.45 PM.png “I’ve been hearing about Beterbiev being the best in the light heavyweight for a few years. He’s knocking everyone out and they call him the boogeyman of the division but I’m ready mentally and physically for the fight.”
“I’m very happy to be fighting at Madison Square Garden, I’ve never fought there as a professional, just as an amateur in the Gloves. I haven’t fought at home in six years but I’m sure I’ll have a lot of support from Long Island on fight night.”
Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing said, “Joe and I have been together on this incredible journey for almost ten years. I am proud we were able to provide him with the opportunities that enabled him to become a world champion. From developmental fights on Long Island as a prospect to fighting on boxing’s biggest stages, Joe has always taken the biggest challenges and comes prepared for victory. He has been working hard and keeps learning. His hard work has been on display over the course of his career as he has improved in all facets in the ring.”
“June 18 is going to be a very special night, a three-belt world title unification between two very talented, hard punching light heavyweights at The Mecca of Boxing. Boxing fans and longtime loyal supporters of Joe have definitely picked up on the excitement of the fight as advance ticket sales have been phenomenal.”
All ringside seats sold out immediately as did 3 of the 5 ticket categories. Only a handful of tickets in price categories 4 and 5 remain.
The few remaining tickets for June 18th can be purchased at Ticketmaster or MSG.com.
Promoted by Top Rank in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Beterbiev-Smith will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.)
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PREVIOUS RELEASES:
BETERBIEV-SMITH THREE WORLD TITLE UNIFICATION ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE 18
WENDY TOUSSAINT & JAHYAE BROWN ADDED TO BETERBIEV-SMITH UNDERCARD
JOE SMITH JR. ARCHIVES:
JOE SMITH JR. successfully defends his WBO World Title against Steve Geffrard
JOE SMITH JR: WBO WORLD CHAMP
Highlights
STAR BOXING ANNOUNCES TWO SUPER WELTERWEIGHT BOUTS TO UNDERCARD OF ARTUR BETERBIEV VS JOE SMITH JR.’s THREE TITLE UNIFICATION ON JUNE 18 AT MSG (HULU)
New York, New York (May 31, 2022) – Earlier this month, one of boxing’s most anticipated fights was formally announced for June 18, when Long Island’s “Common Man” and working class hero, WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion, JOE SMITH JR. (28-3 22KO’s) meets WBC and IBF World Light Heavyweight Champion, ARTUR BETERBIEV (17-0 17KO’s) in a three world title unification bout at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden LIVE on ESPN.
Star Boxing proudly announces two of its super welterweight prospects will be on the undercard in separate matches. Haitian Born, Long Island residing, WENDY “HAITIAN FIRE” TOUSSAINT (Huntington, NY, 13-1 6KO’s) makes his return to the bright lights of MSG as he faces off with the United Kingdom’s ASINIA “DGOHST” BYFIELD (15-4-1 7KO’S) in what should be an exciting crossroads bout. Toussaint appeared on ESPN defeating Isiah Jones by unanimous decision in The Bubble, on the undercard of Joe Smith Jr.’s emphatic KO victory over Eleider Alvarez. Since then, Toussaint took on heralded contender Charles Conwell on Showtime, taking the #4 world rated super welterweight into deep water, before falling short. Most recently Toussaint scored a first round TKO victory at Star Boxing’s “Rockin’ Fights” in March.
Byfield is also no stranger to the bright lights as evidenced when he took #11 world rated super welterweight Ted Cheesman the distance at Copper Box Arena in London. Coming off a second round TKO win last week (May 22), Byfield will look to carry the momentum into the June 18 showdown against Toussaint. The two will meet at the Hulu Theater with the hope of victory, and bigger fight opportunities to come.
Wendy Toussaint had this to say about the fight, “I just want to say how excited I am to finally be fighting on my good friend’s undercard (Joe Smith Jr.). Asinia Byfield is a very good opponent, he has a lot of experience and a great record. By defeating him I will be right where I want to be in the junior middleweight division of boxing. I will not disappoint. I want to thank Star Boxing and my own team for this opportunity.” Toussaint-Byfield will be an 8-round bout.
In the other super welterweight bout, undefeated prospect, JAHYAE “GOLDEN CHILD” BROWN (Schenectady, NY 10-0 8KO’s) will face off with Ireland’s KEANE “THE ICEMAN” MCMAHON (Dublin, Ireland 7-2 4KO’s). Brown, who is an explosive, 22 year old standout, will be making his debut under the Star Boxing banner and hopes to make it one to remember. He defeated Dormedes Potes (then 12-2-1 9KO’s) to secure the ABF Super Welterweight Title in April 2021 and now looks to remain undefeated as he faces his toughest test to date against Keane McMahon.
McMahon is a six-time Irish National Champion. McMahon is coming off of an impressive first round KO victory in Germany, and will fulfill his lifelong dream of fighting at the “Mecca of Boxing”, NY’s Madison Square Garden. The Brown-McMahon fight is a six-round bout.
“We are on the big stage now!” said Jahyae Brown. “I just want to thank God, my coach and the rest of my team, Star Boxing, and Joe DeGuardia for giving me this opportunity. I am going to make a statement in front of the whole world!”
“We are pleased to secure these opportunities for our 154 lb. standouts in Wendy Toussaint and Jahyae Brown on one of, if not the most eagerly anticipated shows this year in boxing,” said Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA. “Joe Smith Jr. vs Artur Beterbiev will be a night to remember, and Wendy and Jahyae have the chance to showcase their abilities to the world.”
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JOE SMITH JR. ARCHIVES:
JOE SMITH JR. successfully defends his WBO World Title against Steve Geffrard
JOE SMITH JR: WBO WORLD CHAMP
Highlights
YARDE ‘LOOKING TO DESTROY THE WINNER’ OF BETERBIEV VS SMITH JR
ANTHONY YARDE SAID he is looking to destroy the winner out of the unification battle between Joe Smith jr and Artur Beterbiev in June in a week where he celebrates clocking up seven years as a professional boxer.
The two light heavyweight champions put their WBO, WBC and IBF belts on the line on June 18 in New York and Yarde is planning travelling over to Madison Square Garden to size up the opposition for his challenge that should come around later this year.
“I am going to keep a close eye on it when they fight each other and I will be looking to destroy the winner,” stated Yarde, who feels his previous world title shot will stand him in good stead.
“I definitely feel in a better place. The reason I feel in a better place is because I have gained more experience and I have been at that level before.
“I would say there is not as much pressure, but there is always going to be pressure. I’ve got the experience and, with that being said, I feel like I know what I need to do.”
Yarde reasoned that he has no regrets when sitting down with Dev Sahni on the Unibet Lowdown to look back on his seven years as a professional boxer.
Back in May 2015, Yarde took on Mitch Mitchell at Wembley Arena and, 15 seconds into round two, the fight was stopped by referee Terry O’Connor and the first page of the Anthony Yarde Story was written.
Remarkably, just over four years later, Yarde was heading out to the Russian backwater of Chelyabinsk to take on the formidable force of Sergey Kovalev in his hometown with the WBO world title at stake.
Despite an eighth round when Kovalev was on the brink of being blasted out, Yarde took a first career loss and the following year his life circumstances took a big turn for the worse when the pandemic struck and he suffered family bereavements.
His personal losses came in the run-up to the huge domestic clash with Lyndon Arthur and, he says if he could change one thing, he would not have made his pain public knowledge.
“I would never have said it has been seven years already because, when you are involved in it, it goes so quick,” reacted the 30-year-old to his boxing anniversary. “Because we had covid as well, it put more of a spanner in the works and it does feel like it is a shorter time.
“Seven years seems like madness!
“The highs included in my first four years fighting for a world title and that was when it was like one thing after another and rolling very quickly. Then I was coming back and getting everything sorted out before fighting Lyndon Arthur after the covid thing with all the deaths in my family.
“I ended up not getting the decision and had to reassess everything. Again I now feel back on track and feel like my mind is back where it was before.
“I have no regrets and I am happy with the way my career has gone so far. Of course, everyone wants that big hurrah of being undefeated and being invincible, but there is a feeling that you get from bouncing back.
“Even in the last fight there was a lot that I went through mentally and to get the victory felt 10 times better.”
While what doesn’t break you, indeed, makes you stronger, Yarde confirms that his trials have bolstered his mental toughness and it is his job to simply get on with the job.
“Facts. Even before I turned professional I had to come to terms with having to be a performer, an entertainer and nobody cares about your personal life. Although it might be a story and tragedy gives people something to talk about, I had to get it into my mind that no-one cares what you are going through. So get on with it.
“Sometimes it is hard going through things in private, but my one was in public and that is something I have learned. If I do have one regret, when I went through what I did with my family, I should have kept it to myself. I wish I did keep it to myself.
“I feel like it made it harder everyone knowing about it and people posting about it. I got thousands of messages, which was okay in the beginning, but when it got to six or seven months, I was getting reminded when I was trying to heal and it made it harder.
“It has all made me stronger now. When you are a boxer people expect you to have this armour around you to deal with anything. The show must go on and you go and fight. Everyone is different and I feel like I handled it well and have become a stronger person.”
A resounding defeat of Arthur in their December rematch, for Yarde, represented the opening of a fresh chapter in his story and cleared his mind of any lingering gremlins.
“That is definitely fair to say. I made sure I put a stamp on it and, even in the build up, I said it isn’t happening again. That was not happening again.
“My mind was back where it needed to be, I knew what I needed to do.”
As he will in the next chapter of his story, which will be the winner of the big unification battle between Smith jr and Beterbiev on June 18.
Common Joe Versus The King: Artur Beterbiev-Joe Smith Jr. Light Heavyweight Title Unification Showdown Confirmed for June 18 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden LIVE on ESPN
NEW YORK (May 4, 2022) — Three belts and light heavyweight supremacy will be at stake when WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev meets WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. in a highly anticipated unification showdown Saturday, June 18, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Beterbiev, boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, hopes to pick up another strap against “Cinderella Man” Smith, a Long Island native who grew up about 70 miles from Madison Square Garden.
In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez will battle the unbeaten Abraham “El Super” Nova. Beterbiev-Smith and Ramirez-Nova will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, tickets starting at $56 go on sale Friday, May 6 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com.
“Beterbiev versus Smith is one of the very best fights that can be made in boxing, two huge punchers fighting at Madison Square Garden in what will be an electric atmosphere. Whoever comes out on top will be the true king of the light heavyweight division,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez has developed into a sensational pro, and he will have his hands full against a tough, undefeated kid in Abraham Nova. The winner will be in line to fight for a featherweight world title.”
“I am thrilled we were able to put this sensational championship unification fight together,” said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. “The top two punchers in boxing fighting each other for their three world titles. It has been brewing for a long time and is a potential fight of the year. Joe Smith Jr. is proud of his humble background and hard-working union ‘Common Man’ moniker, but he is also truly special and a real champ. He could have chosen an easier path, but he wanted the best and toughest out there, the guy everyone is afraid to fight. Credit to both champions, each fighting the toughest, hardest-punching and most dangerous foe the division has. I can’t wait to see this fight!”
Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs), a two-time Russian Olympian, has spent his nine-year pro career based in Montreal, Canada. He has been a world champion since knocking out Enrico Koelling for the IBF strap in November 2017. He’s won five title fights inside the distance since then, including an off-the-deck victory over Callum Johnson and a title unification classic versus Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019. Beterbiev went 2-0 in 2021, capping the year with December’s brutal ninth-round stoppage over longtime contender Marcus Browne.
“I look forward to the challenge ahead of me. Joe Smith Jr. is a worthy champion, but I am coming to Madison Square Garden to add another world title to my collection,” Beterbiev said. “This fight will get me one step closer to becoming undisputed champion.”
Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) earned mainstream recognition with his 2016 knockout of living legend Bernard Hopkins and scored standout wins over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez in 2020. In his second world title attempt, he outlasted Maxim Vlasov in a 2021 Fight of the Year Contender. Smith successfully defend his world title in January with a ninth-round stoppage over late replacement Steve Geffrard.
Smith said, “I am extremely excited and focused on this task I have ahead. Facing Beterbiev is huge. It is going to be a fight that fans remember forever, with two of the biggest punches in boxing today facing off. This opportunity is a dream of mine to accomplish. Fighting with three titles on the line is one step closer to becoming undisputed.”
Ramirez (9-1, 5 KOs) has been on a sterling run since a shocking loss in his August 2019 professional debut. An Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016, Ramirez is coming off one-sided victories over the unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez and Irish veteran Eric Donovan. Nova (21-0, 15 KOs), who spent much of his career at junior lightweight, has been flawless since moving up to the featherweight ranks. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Albany, New York, Nova knocked out William Encarnacion in eight rounds on the Smith-Geffrard undercard in January.
Ramirez said, “I have always wanted to display my talent on a stage as important as the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. Come June 18, I will not only take advantage of this big opportunity, but I will also hand Nova the first loss of his career. I’m going to take a big leap in my quest to become world champion, and above all, showcase my class and give boxing fans another great performance. I will make clear that ‘El Tren’ is a true powerhouse in the featherweight division.”
Nova said, “Robeisy is a great talent, and he’s the fighter that will get me to that next level. I need a statement victory. Beating a two-time gold medalist puts me right in the title picture. The better the competition, the better I look. Nobody has seen the best of me yet, and I will show that on June 18.”
The undercard, which will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+, is scheduled to feature many of the sport’s rising superstars. In six-round bouts, Brooklyn-born featherweight puncher Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (3-0, 2 KOs) and Long Island welterweight Jahi Tucker (7-0, 4 KOs) hope to extend their unbeaten records. U.S. Olympian Troy Isley (5-0, 3 KOs), fresh off his knockout win on the Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson undercard, returns in a six-round middleweight bout. Featherweight Kurt Walker (2-0, 1 KO) and junior middleweight Kieran Molloy (1-0, 1 KO), both of whom starred for the Irish national team as amateurs, will make their respective U.S. debuts.
FOLLOW BETERBIEV – BROWNE LIVE
Follow all the action as Artur Beterbiev defends the IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Titles against Marcus Browne.
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12 ROUNDS–IBF/WBC LGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES–ARTUR BETERBIEV (16-1, 16 KOS) VS MARCUS BROWNE (24-1, 16 KOS)
ROUND
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
TOTAL
BETERBIEV*
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
KO
77
BROWNE
10
10
9
9
9
9
8
8
73
Round 1: Browne Jabbing…Body shot..Left down the middle
Round 2 Body shot from Browne…Nice Jab..Right by Beterbiev…Left from Browne..Jab from Beterbiev
Round 3 Right from Beterbiev..Browne lands a body combination…Good right from Beterbiev
Round 4 Quick combination from Browne…Unintentional Head Clash has both Guys Bleeding (Beterbiev on his forehead..Browne over his left eye)…Right from Beterbiev..Hard left to the body..
Round 5 Doctor looking at both cuts..Left down middle from Browne..Combination from Beterbiev..Jab..Beterbiev bleeding badly…4 punch combination…Good right…Ripping head shots
Round 6 Good left hook from Beterbiev..1-2..Good right..Hard Jab and right hand
Round 7 BETERBIEV LANDS A HUGE BODY AND RIGHT HAND AND DOWN GOES BROWNE..Beterbiev landing hard shots on the ropes
Round 8 Beterbiev lands a straight right…Left from Browne..Good right from Beterbiev..
Round 9 BIG COMBINATION AND BIG UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES BROWNE AND HE STAYS DOWN FOR THE 10 COUNT
Beterbiev Stops Browne in 9; Retains Unified Light Heavyweight Titles
In a bloody affair, Artur Beterbiev stopped mandatory challenger Marcus Browne in round nine of their 12-round bout to retain the IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight titles at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Browne got off to a good start as over the first couple of rounds, he was able to box and move as Beterbiev was trying to figure out the southpaw.
In round four, an unintentional clash of heads opened up big cuts on both men. Beterbiev was cut down his forehead, while Browne was cut over his left eye.
In round seven, Beterbiev landed a hard left to the body that followed up by a flush right to the head that sent Browne to the canvas. In round nine, Beterbiev landed a vicious body shot that was followed by an uppercut that sent Browne down for the 10-count at 46 seconds.
Beterbiev, 175 lbs of Montreal via Russia is now a perfect 17-0 with 17 knockouts. Browne, 174.6 lbs of Park Hill, NY is 24-2.
Dicaire Stops Lozano in 7; Wins 154 lb Title
Marie Eve Dicaire became a two-time world champion as she stopped Cynthia Lozano in round seven to win the IBF Junior Welterweight title
In round three, Lozano began to swell under her right eye. Dicaire dominated the fight against Lozano who looked levels below the Canadian champion. Lozano would try to run in only to get time and time again until the fight was stopped 1:03.
Dicaire, 153 lbs is 18-1 as she notched her first stoppage. Lozano is 9-1.
Rolls Stops Brooker in 9
Steve Rolls stopped Christopher Brooker in round nine of a scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.
In round nine, Rolls landed hard right that drove Brooker into the ropes and followed up by three more right hands and a little left that put Brooker down for the 10-count. at 1:32.
Rolls, 166.8 lbs of Toronto is now 21-1 with 12 knockouts. Brooker, 166.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 16-9.
Pellerin Decisions Rivas
In a lackluster 10-round cruiserweight fight Yan Pellerin won a unanimous decision over Francisco Rivas.
Pellerin, 199 lbs won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 13-1. Rivas, 198.2 lbs is 15-3.
Biyarslanov stopes Ayala in 1
Arthur Biyarslanov remained undefeated by stopping Alan Ayala in round one of a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.
In round one, Biyarslanov dropped Ayala with a left to the body. He finished the fight with a hard barrage of punches that put Ayala down again, and the fight was stopped at 2:40.
Biyarslanov, 139.6 lbs of Toronto is 9-0 with seven knockouts. Ayala, 138.8 lbs is 9-3.
Jukembayev stops Martinez in 1
Batyr Jukembayev stopped Juan Jose Martinez in the opening round of their middleweight bout.
In round one, Jukembayev landed a left hand that drover Martinez into the ropes for a knockdown. Jukembayev landed a big combination that forced a referee stoppage at 1:09.
Jukembayev, 150.4 lbs is now 19-1 with 15 knockouts. Martinez, 158 lbs is now 28-11.
VIDEO: Artur Beterbiev vs Marcus Browne | OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Weigh-In Results: Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne
• Artur Beterbiev 175 lbs vs. Marcus Browne 174.6 lbs (Beterbiev’s WBC & IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles — 12 Rounds)
• Marie-Eve Dicaire 153 lbs vs. Cynthia Lozano 151.2 lbs (Vacant IBF Female Junior Middleweight World Title — 10 Rounds)
• Steve Rolls 166.8 lbs vs. Christopher Brooker 166.4 lbs (Super Middleweight — 10 Rounds)
• Yan Pellerin 199 lbs vs. Francisco Rivas 198.2 lbs (Vacant NABO Cruiserweight Title — 10 Rounds)
• Arthur Biyarslanov 139.6 lbs vs. Alan Ayala Crisosto 138.8 lbs (Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds) • Batyrzhan Jukembayev 150.4 lbs vs. Juan Jose Martinez 158 lbs (Middleweight — 6 Rounds) About ESPN+ ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).
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Press Conference Notes & Quotes: Unified Champion Artur Beterbiev Set for Montreal Homecoming Versus Marcus Browne
MONTREAL (Dec. 15, 2021)— Artur Beterbiev, the Russian-born puncher who moved to Montreal nearly a decade ago to begin his professional career, will finally get the chance to defend his titles in his adopted hometown. Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, will defend his WBC and IBF light heavyweight titles against 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne this Friday at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Browne (24-1, 16 KOs), who once held an interim world title, returned to the ring in April with a 10-round decision over Denis Grachev. He lost his interim belt in August 2019 via technical decision to Jean Pascal, which came off the heels of his career-best victory over Badou Jack. Browne, in his first bout outside of the United States, hopes to stun Beterbiev, who is upwards of an 11-1 betting favorite.
Beterbiev unified world titles in October 2019 with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and returned to action in March with a 10th-round stoppage over Adam Deines.
At Wednesday’s press conference, this is what the main event fighters and their trainers had to say.
Artur Beterbiev
“We are ready. We had a good training camp, and I am ready to show my best on Friday night.”
Marc Ramsay (Beterbiev’s Trainer)
“I’m very enthusiastic about this fight. It’s been a long time since we have been able to defend the titles in front of a crowd in Montreal, and we look forward to that. It’s been a great training camp. We’ve seen Marcus before, so we know his strengths and weaknesses, and you will see what happens on Friday night.”
Marcus Browne
“We trained hard for the fight. He’s a tough customer, but on Friday night, we are changing the narrative.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe, and come Friday night, you will see. I’m tired of talking. I want to fight.”
Derrick James (Browne’s Trainer)
“We’re very happy to be here. I found out when we got here that Marcus was a huge underdog, and we embrace that. This will be a historic fight. After Marcus wins the title, it will make me the only trainer in history to have three unified champions at the same time: Marcus Browne, Jermell Charlo, and Errol Spence.”
“I know who I am. I know Marcus will do what I ask him to do. When he came to me, he was already a good fighter and I just helped him build on that. I believe in myself, and I believe in Marcus.”
Friday, December 17, 2021
ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Artur Beterbiev vs. Marcus Browne, 12 rounds, Beterbiev’s WBC/IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles
Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, 10 rounds, Vacant IBF Female Junior Middleweight World Title
Steve Rolls vs. Christopher Brooker, 10 rounds, super middleweight
Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, 10 rounds, Vacant NABO Cruiserweight Title
Arthur Biyarslanov vs. Alan Ayala Crisosto, 8 rounds, junior welterweight
Batyrzhan Jukembayev vs. Juan Jose Martinez, 6 rounds, welterweight
About ESPN+ ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).
