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Light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev was set to return as part of Showtime's November 28 card from Montreal, which will be headlined by James DeGale vs Lucian Bute in a super middleweight title bout, but the unbeaten Russian has been forced to withdraw from his slot on the card due to injury.
From a Groupe Yvon Michel press release:
The decision was made this morning (Tuesday) after the two-time Russian Olympian met GYM's doctor, Francis Fontaine, and surgeon David Baillargeon determined Beterbiev needs minor but necessary surgery to his right shoulder.
"Under my supervision, Artur had a magnetic resonance examination Friday," Dr. Fontaine explained. "After a meeting this morning, we have decided that Artur's surgery would be performed in the next few days by specialist Dr. Baillargeon. We expect a complete recovery followed by a return to the ring at the beginning of 2016."
"I am extremely frustrated and disappointed by the situation," Beterbiev said. "I was preparing myself hard to give another great show to the fans, November 28, but I will be back stronger in 2016.".
The fighter will start his rehabilitation four days after his surgery, under the wing of physiotherapist Hugo Lettre, from Evolution Physio.
"We have absolute confidence in our medical staff, including the talented Dr. Baillargeon," GYM president Yvon Michel added. "This is the same doctor that saved the shoulder, which was in a really worst state, and the career of Jean Pascal, in January 2010. Seven months later, Jean defended his title belt, in spectacular fashion, against Chad Dawson."
Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KO) is lined up for an IBF title eliminator. Sullivan Barrera was first in line for the shot to face Beterbiev, but couldn't get a visa to fight in Canada, and Beterbiev and his team refused to fight in the United States in order to make the bout happen. A replacement opponent had not yet been named, but the fight will have to wait now, anyway. The current IBF titleholder is Sergey Kovalev, who is in talks to rematch Jean Pascal in January.