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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Beterbiev Believes He Is On The
Way To Living The Most Glorious Moments Of His Career
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The Montrealer Russian Artur Beterbiev has the
conviction the months to come will become the most glorious
moments of his pro boxing career. Beterbiev is the only
light heavyweight in the world to be rank in the Top five of
the WBC, WBA and IBF ratings with less than 10 pro bouts of
experience. And he is ranked seventh by the WBO.
Former amateur world champion (2009), Beterbiev (9-0-0) is
ranked second contender by the IBF, and fourth by the WBC
and the WBA. “I really believe I will live the greatest
moments of my boxing career in the months to come, said
Beterbiev Tuesday afternoon at the GYM Boxing gym in the
North of Montréal. No doubt in my mind I will become world
champion. If Sergey Kovalev is giving up his IBF title this
year or next year, I am sure I will be involved in a vacant
IBF world championship fight. I challenged publicly Kovalev
last year, but as you know, the fight never became reality.
But no matter if I fight Kovalev again or not, a world title
will be mine very soon.”
Kovalev (29-0-1), a Russian who lost a fight against
Beterbiev in the amateurs, is detaining three of the four
major world titles in the 175 pounds division. He is WBA,
WBO and IBF world champion. The WBC title belongs to the
Montrealer southpaw Adonis Stevenson, who is associated to
the GYM Group, like Beterbiev.
Beterbiev knows that Kovalev will be obliged to give up one
or two of his world titles, or he will be forced each year
to face his mandatory challengers. Actually, Kovalev is
clearly more interested to be involved in mega fights, bouts
which can provide him millions$, instead face mandatory
challengers who are not very populars on the international
scene. Kovalev is considered actually as one of the five
best fighters pound for pound in the world.
June 4th in the ring of the Bell Centre, Beterbiev will take
part to the main event of a boxing show organized by the GYM
Group.
He will defend his NABA North American championship and his
WBO international championship against the Argentinian
Ezequiel Maderna (23-2-0).
“Maderna is a very resistant fighter, then, I will need to
attack him energetically, said Beterbiev. And I will. Its
crucial for me to get a clear win to maintain my progression
in the international boxing ratings. I am so close to get my
chance in a world title bout.”
Bernard Barré, the scout of the GYM Group, the man who
recruited Beterbiev for the organization in 2010, thinks the
IBF title is the best option for his fighter. “I am sure
that almost every light heavyweights in the world are scared
to face Artur, said Barré. In the circumstances, the IBF
title still the best option for Artur in a short term.
Beterbiev is ranked second contender by the IBF, than, if
this world title becomes vacant later this year or next
year, and it’s really possible, the first IBF contender will
be obliged to fight Artur for the vacant title. Yes, its
just a matter of time before Beterbiev becomes world
champion. He has all the weapons necessaries to go to the
top. He is fast, he is a great technician and an explosive
punchers. It’s certainly not a coincidence if he is ranked
in the Top 10 of all the major organizations with only nine
pro bouts of experience. He is really an exceptional fighter
who will be soon a super star on the international boxing
scene. Maderna? He is good and tough fighter, no doubt about
it, but I am sure he never faced a better boxer than
Beterbiev. I am positive that Artur is gonna win this bout
by KO or TKO.”
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