There’s not much question about Artur Beterbiev’s light heavyweight supremacy. But there have been questions and some confusion about where, when and whom he’d fight next.
Finally, an answer.
Beterbiev, undefeated and No. 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, is scheduled to re-appear March 28 in Quebec City against former Chinese Olympian Meng Fanlong.
Initially, it looked as if Beterbiev’s first fight since unifying the 175-pound title with a second belt by stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk would be in China. Longjoy Sports won a purse bid with a $1.9-million offer. But Longjoy failed to make good on its offer. The deadline passed with no deposit from the Chinese promoter. The promotional rights then went to Top Rank, which had offered $1.315 million.
Top Rank then decided to move the fight to Quebec City, according to a story first reported by ESPN, which will televise the bout.
The move allayed fears that Beterbiev, a Russian, would refuse to fight in China because of the government’s anti-Muslim policy. According to media reports, Muslims have been confined in Chinese detention camps. Beterbiev, 35, is a Muslim of Chechen descent.
Beterbiev (15-0,15 KOs) fought 10 of his first 11 fights in Quebec. Since then, he has been fighting in the United States, including an impressive 10th-round TKO of then-unbeaten Gvozdyk on Oct. 18 in Philadelphia. He knocked down Gvozydk three times.
Fanlong (16-0, 10 KOs), who represented China at the 2012 London Games, has fought in the U.S. nine times, including a second-round stoppage of Gilberto Rubio in Hockessin, Delaware on Oct. 5, 13 days before Beterbiev’s dramatic victory over Gvozydk in nearby Philadelphia.