Adopted Montreal boxer Artur Beterbiev will face American Joe Smith Jr. in a light heavyweight unification bout on June 18th.
This was reported by the ESPN network on Friday. The fight will take place in New York City, potentially inside the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Smith son (28-3-0, 22 K.-O.), champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), will try to steal the belts of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) from Beterbiev (17-0-0, 17 KOs).
The boxing weight limit was reportedly set at 175 lbs.
«[Beterbiev] is the one I want, Smith Jr. claimed after his win against Steven Geffrard on January 15. I’m ready to face anyone.”
For his part, the protege of coach Marc Ramsay easily defeated Marcus Browne during his last appearance in the arena, on December 17.
–
