QUEBEC CITY – Artur Beterbiev made the 175-pound limit for the eighth defense of his light heavyweight titles, while challenger Callum Smith came in just under the 174.6-pound limit.
The fight, which will be contested for the WBC, IBF and WBA belts held by Beterbiev (19-0, 19 knockouts), will take place at the Center Videotron, Quebec City, Canada, and will be broadcast live in the United States on ESPN. and ESPN+, with the main broadcast starting at 10 pm ET.
Beterbiev, 38, is originally from Khasavyurt, Russia, but lives and trains three hours away in Montreal. The fight will be his first in almost a year, when he stopped Anthony Yarde in eight rounds.
Artur Beterbiev and @CallumSmith23 face off after making weight for their light heavyweight championship fight #BeterbievSmith pic.twitter.com/TyveIIjXCb
– Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) January 12, 2024
The Beterbiev-Smith fight was originally scheduled for August 19, but was postponed after Beterbiev underwent surgery for a bone infection in his jaw.
Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) looks to become world champion in a second weight class after holding the WBA super middleweight belt from 2018 until suffering his only loss in 2020, a unanimous decision loss to Saul. Canelo” Álvarez. Since then he has had two in a row against lesser rivals.
Smith of Liverpool, United Kingdom, is also coming off significant inactivity, having last fought in August 2022 when he knocked out Mathieu Bauderlique.
The co-main event will feature a super middleweight showdown between Christian Mbili (25-0, 21 KOs) of Pornic, France and Rohan Murdock (27-2, 19 KOs), 31, of Nerang, Australia. Mbili weighed 167.3 pounds while Murdock weighed 167.6 pounds.
.@JasonMoloney1 weighs in at 117.5 pounds for his first defense of the WBO bantamweight title, while challenger Saul Sanchez weighs in at 117.8 pounds. The two faced off and shared some parting words before tomorrow’s fight #BeterbievSmith pic.twitter.com/40JvDjUJgg
– Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) January 12, 2024
The card, which will begin streaming on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET, will be headlined by WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) making his first defense of his belt against Saúl Sánchez (20 -2, 12 KOs). ). Sanchez, 26, of Pacoima, California, weighed 117.8 pounds, while Moloney, 33, of New South Wales, Australia, weighed 117.5 pounds.
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