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Artur Beterbiev (meniscus) injured, RING/Undisputed Championship vs. Bivol match postponed

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Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol April 15 Press conference in London to announce the Undisputed Lightweight Heavyweight Championship fight to be held on June 1 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. Photo credit: Mark Robinson, boxing in the match room

The delicate heavyweight debate will have to continue for several more months.

Artur Beterbiev was once again forced to postpone the title fight due to injury. This delays a long-awaited undisputed showdown with fellow undefeated champion Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev suffered a torn meniscus during training camp, which wiped out their expected clash on the current schedule.

“The plan is to change the date of the Beterbiev-Bivol competition before the end of the year,” Top Rank confirmed in a company statement made available to the media. “Additional details will be provided in due course.”

Two of the best delicate heavyweights in the world were scheduled to meet on June 1 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 knockouts) is No. 1 at 175, No. 5 in the pound-for-pound rankings and unified for the WBC, IBF and WBO titles. The Russian-born, Montreal-based knockout artist is also an established lineal champion. Bivol (22-0, 11 KO) is ranked No. 2 at 175, 6 pound-for-pound and holds the WBA title.

The winner would become the first undisputed champion at the weight in more than two decades. ESPN+ was supposed to broadcast an attractive match in the United States. The event will continue with the well-publicized Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 on 5. These fights have always been broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, regardless of the Beterbiev-Bivol championship.

“After receiving today’s news about Beterbiev’s injury, we will postpone… the fight,” confirmed Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority. “I wish my brother Artur a speedy recovery.

“However, the 5v5 event continues on June 1.”

There is a chance that Bivol will remain on the show. Event staff are currently working to find a replacement opponent, but with four weeks’ notice.

Beterbiev was about to attempt his 10th title fight and seventh with two or more belts at his disposal. The last time took place on January 13 in Quebec City with a seventh-round knockout of Callum Smith (29-2, 23 KO). He survived the sport’s politics to keep his three belts intact and position himself to take the final chip.

But his title reign has been paralyzed by injuries, illness and the pandemic.

Beterbiev suffered both injury and illness during his oft-postponed mandatory IBF title defense against Adam Deines. A rib injury caused their date in Russia to be postponed to October 2020, which has already been postponed by a month. The postponed December 2020 was scrapped when Beterbiev tested positive for Covid.

They finally met in March 2021. Beterbiev overcame ring rust and stopped Deines in the tenth round. He then stopped Marcus Browne to defend the championship in December 2021. This is his only two-fight campaign since 2019.

Beterbiev only fought once in 2022, but it still counted. Crushing stoppage of Joe Smith Jr. in the second round saw Beterbiev unify the WBC, IBF and WBO titles. He was scheduled to face mandatory challenger Anthony Yard in behind schedule October. However, another injury forced him to postpone it for three months.

In their rescheduled clash on January 28 last year, Beterbiev fended off the brash Briton to an eighth-round stoppage in London.

It would be his only fight this year.

A separate mandatory title defense against Liverpool’s Callum Smith was scheduled to take place last summer. Beterbiev had to withdraw due to a tooth infection. They finally met on January 21. The 39-year-old Beterbiev turned in one of his best performances, defeating the former ring/WBA super middleweight champion by seventh-round knockout.

The victory started the fight he wanted most – a fight with Bivol for the last chip.

“I see another lane,” Beterbiev said during a press conference on April 15 to officially announce the event. “I collect strips. I need one more.

Bivol was elated to comply with this request. Now he becomes a victim of circumstances.

In the 2022 Fighter of the Year campaign, Bivol defeated King Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and then-undefeated Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. His bounty is stalled in the wasted year of 2023, with only one fight taking place. On December 23 in Riyad, Bivol overtook Lyndon Arthur within twelve rounds.

The only advantage was that the fight took place on the card presented by Alalshikh, who wanted to stage a fight with Beterbiev. For Bivol, it was a worthwhile investment of time, although the sport would once again test his patience.

Bivol has held the full WBA 175-pound title since November 2017. He knocked out Trent Broadhurst in the first round to upgrade his “Regular” belt to the full version. This was followed by ten consecutive title defenses as he had long desired undisputed status.

Thanks to his counterpart, an extension has come to the already long wait.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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