WBC Closes 2021 With The Duel Of Two Of The Best Boxers In The Light Weight Division, Artur Beterbiev Vs Marcus Browne

Artur Beterbiev (Instagram @arturbeterbiev)

JAKARTA - The WBC will hold a boxing match to conclude 2021 between Artur Beterbiev and Marcus Browne at the Bell Center, Montreal, Canada, next Friday.

Artur Beterbiev will be present to defend his two world light heavyweight titles (79.3 kg) WBC and IBF versions. While Browne came as a mandatory challenger for the WBC title.

This match is predicted to be interesting because both boxers are considered the best in the light weight division. Beterbiev throughout his professional career was unbeaten in 16 matches.

In the last match, the boxer from Russia defended his WBC and IBF titles, defeating Adam Deines with a technical knockout (TKO) result in the 10th round at Khodynka Ice Palace, Moscow, 20 March 2021.

The last time he fought in Canada was on December 23, 2016 when he defeated Isidro Ranoni Prieto. After that, Beterbiev won the vacant IBF title when he faced Enrico Koelling at the Save Mart Arena, Fresno, 11 November 2017.

Beterbiev's career became increasingly successful until he finally won the WBC title during the title unification duel against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at the Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, October 18, 2019.

Top Rank's Beterbiev promoter Bob Arum said his client was one of the great pound-for-pound (cross-division) boxers and had a terrifying punch.

Meanwhile, Browne had the opportunity to challenge the champion after defeating Denis Grachev at the Shrine Exposition Center, Los Angeles, April 20, 2021.

Throughout his professional debut on November 9, 2012, the left-handed boxer has collected 24 wins and one loss.

Browne's defeat occurred on August 3, 2019 when he faced Jean Pascal in the fight for the WBC Silver and WBA Interim titles at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

As for Beterbiev, victory against Browne is important to move forward to get another world title. Currently, the other light heavyweight title holders are Dmitry Bivol for the WBA and WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.

But before that, he clearly has to get past Browne, who has the potential to become the toughest competitor of his career more than when he faced Oleksandr Gvozyk.