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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Campillo: "My Experience
Will Be A Huge Factor"
Beterbiev: "The Biggest Challenge Of My Career"
By Daniel Cloutier
QUÉBEC CITY, Canada — The Montrealer Russian Artur
Beterbiev, the only light heavyweight to be ranked in the
«Top 10» in the world will only seven pro bouts of
experience, is admitting he will face the biggest challenge
of his pro boxing career Saturday afternoon in the ring of
the Québec City Colisée.
Just before the presentation of the WBC light heavyweight
championship of the world opposing the Montrealer Adonis
Stevenson (25-1-0) to Sakio Bika (32-6-3), a boxer from
Cameron living in Australia, Beterbiev (7-0-0) will face the
former WBA light heavyweight champion of the world, the
Spanish Gabriel Campillo (25-6-1). The two fights will be
televised by CBS.
Actually, Beterbiev, who is NABA, NABO and IBF 175 pounds
North American champion, is ranked seventh contender by the
WBC. On his side, Campillo is ranked second contender by the
IBF and fourth by the WBC.
“I fought solid opponents recently, including Tavoris Cloud
and Jeff Page Jr., but no doubt in my mind, I will face the
biggest challenge of my pro boxing career Saturday, said
Beterbiev Wednesday afternoon at the final press conference
of the event held at the Château Bonne Entente in Québec
City. Never I faced a fighter with a so great background.
Campillo has 211 rounds of experience, against 15 for me,
and he has been involved in four championship bouts, with
two wins, two defeats… two defeats by split decision. He is
tall, he has a long reach, he has a great mobility in the
ring, than, I will have to fight perfectly technically and
strategically to dominate him. But I am extremely motivated.
A win Saturday would give the second place in the IBF
ratings. In being second IBF contender next month, I would
have the guaranty to fight for a world title in 2016. As you
know, my dream is to face Sergey Kovalev, a world champion I
beat twice in the amateurs.”
Kovalev (27-0-1), who beat the Montrealer Jean Pascal
(29-3-1) by TKO in the eight round March 14th at Bell Centre
in Montréal, is WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion
of the world.
Marc Ramsay, the Beterbiev’s trainer, has a very obvious
confidence in his fighter.
“It’s the third time in a row the boxing fans believe that
Artur is taking a crazy risk, said Ramsay. Should I
remembered you Artur beat Tavoris Cloud and Jeff Page Jr. by
TKO in less than two rounds? Campillo is a very credible
opponent, it’s very obvious, but Artur is the most talented
light heavyweight in the world. He has only seven pro bout,
but he is already ranked in the «Top 10» in the world, and
he his already NABA, NABO and IBF North American champion.
You got to have a very special talent to achieve what Artur
has achieved so far. Artur wants big challenges, and he is
ready for big challenges.”
Campillo looked very calm at this press conference. “My
trainer (Anton Gonzalez) and me studied the Beterbiev’s
style many times since two months, then, I know what to
expect from him, said Campillo. Beterbiev is a talented
fighter, no doubt about it, but I faced several fighters of
very high caliber in the last years. My record is proving
it. I really believe my experience in mega fights will be a
huge factor in the result of the bout Saturday. I did not
come here to give to Beterbiev my second position in the IBF
ratings. I am taking him very seriously. I want so much to
have another shot for a major world title.”
The promoter Yvon Michel is very excited to present this
event. “I believe strongly that we will present Saturday one
of the most important boxing show in the history of the
Canadian boxing, said Michel. Fights Stevenson-Bika and
Beterbiev-Campillo is a huge doubleheader. The authorities
of CBS are totally agree with me. It will the first event of
the new CBS boxing show series, and the last boxing show
ever organized at the old Québec City Colisée (the new
Québec City Colisée will be inaugurated September 15th).”
Stevenson, who proceed to the fifth defense of his WBC light
heavyweight championship of the world, seems impatient to be
in the ring. “Yes, I am very impatient to hear the first
bell, said Stevenson. I am a man of action as you know. It
will be my sixth world championships bouts in a span of 22
months. I know Bika came here to dethrone me, but I won’t
let anybody to take my treasury. Bika is an aggressive
fighter, and it’s a good thing. The crowd will assist to a
spectacular fight. And more Bika will chase me, more I will
have opportunity to connect him with my power shots. I am
really determinate to become the first man to beat him by KO
or TKO. But if ever the fight goes to the limit, don’t be
worried for me, I will be the winner. I will show up in the
ring with the WBC belt in my arms, and I will leave the ring
with it.”
Bika still thinks Stevenson is underestimatin him. “I still
believe that for Stevenson, beat me it’s a formality, but
trust me, he will learn to respect me, said Bika. I faced
five world champions, I have been involved in the Showtime
Super Six tournament, and nobody got an easy fight with me.
Nobody. Stevenson will see how much I am persistent and
solid in the ring. Yes, I came here to dethroned him, and I
will do the necessary to do it.”
Kevin Cunningham, Bika’s trainer, said: “Stevenson is a big
challenge, I can't denied it, but my fighter gave always
great performances against world champions. More the fight
is important, more the challenge is huge, and more Sakio is
performing. The Canadians boxing fans who believed that the
real Sakio Bika is the one who lost by decision against
Lucian Bute in Montréal in 2007, are so wrong. After his
defeat against Bute, Sakio became WBC super middleweight
champion of the world, he gave a great opposition to five
world champions, stars like Andre Ward, Joe Calzaghe, Mikkel
Kessler, Anthony Dirrrell and Markus Beyer. Do you think
seriously Stevenson can intimidate him? I am positive Sakio
will win in second world title in few days.”
Bika was WBC super middleweight champion of the world in
2013. Saturday, he is moving up in the light heavyweight
division (from 168 to 175 pounds).
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