Despite being busy dominating the light-heavyweight division, Artur Beterbiev is open to facing a world champion two divisions up – Oleksandr Usyk.
According to BoxRec, The Russian beat Usyk 12-10 in the Amber Gloves tournament in 2007. However, if we’re delving back into the archives, it must be pointed out that the pair went onto fight twice more, with the now-heavyweight champion taking both of those contests, one being in the 2012 Olympics.
Despite the losses, Beterbiev did drop Usyk in their second fight, and seemed to hurt him in the third too. Now, with both men having a huge amount of success in the pro ranks, the Russian fancies another go. He told iD Boxing he would provide a tough test.
“I’m very happy if this fight happens in the professional, because I believe I can give him something in professional. I can give him very good fight. I don’t want to say like I will beat him – even [if] I will beat him, I don’t want to say it.”
Why wouldn’t the light heavyweight champion be confident? In his eighteen fights he has knocked out every man he’s faced.
Still, Usyk has been working away too. His career has seen him win the undisputed titles at cruiserweight and beat Anthony Joshua at heavyweight to set himself up for all the belts in that division. Many will feel that the size difference, at this point in their careers, may just be too glaring.
As for the immediate future, Beterbiev faces Anthony Yarde in London, looking to hold onto his unified titles in the hope of facing the division’s other champion, Dmitry Bivol, soon after.
Usyk is bounding towards a super fight with Tyson Fury, in which a win would place his name in the history books alongside fellow cruiserweight turned heavyweight, Evander Holyfield.