Top Rank To Call The Shots on Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith Title Defense
Undefeated unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19KO) will be defending the title against mandatory challenger Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-1, 21KO). 3kingsboxing.com has learned that Top Rank has won the purse bid to host the fight.
According to the WBC, the legendary promotional company outbid Matchroom Boxing. Moreover, the winner of the fight will receive a bonus as an added incentive.
“Top Rank Boxing has won the rights to promote the mandatory light heavyweight fight between champion Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith with $2,115,000 outbidding Matchroom by a mere $15,000.”
“The winner of the fight will win the 10% bonus which is an innovation by the WBC to add incentives to the winner of the fight.”
WBC
THE BACKSTORY TO HOW WE GOT HERE
Mundo grabbed the mandatory position after flat-lining Mathieu Bauderlique in August 2022. Moreover, he feels the 38-year-old unified champion is ripe for the pickings.
On November 2022, the WBC created a buzz within the boxing community by stating the winner between Beterbiev and WBO mandatory Anthony Yarde must face Smith next.
On January 28, Beterbiev kept his undefeated knockout streak alive by stopping Yarde in the eighth round. Immediately following the victory, he called for undisputed with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol.
Typically unifications trump mandatory fights. However, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has expressed an unwillingness to sanction a fight with Bivol due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The problem is the unified champion is from Russia, so that statement makes no sense.
As of the writing of this article, there hasn’t been a date or location assigned for the fight. Beterbiev is co-promoted by Top Rank and will receive the lions share of the purse (70%), as per WBC rules.
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