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Pray you never have reason to hate something as ferociously as the universe hates Artur Beterbiev. The unified light heavyweight champ’s January 30th title defense against Adam Deines is off after Beterbiev tested positive for COVID.
JUST ANNOUNCED
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 28, 2020
Following a positive COVID-19 test, #BeterbievDeines will no longer take place Jan. 30 on ESPN+. More updates on the Light Heavyweight king's return to come soon. pic.twitter.com/KUhG1cLt35
Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KO), whose career has been thoroughly plagued with inactivity, hasn’t seen action since overpowering Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC belt in October of last year. COVID scrapped a mandatory IBF title defense against Meng Fanlong, then Deines (19-1-1, 10 KO) replaced Meng when the latter ran into visa issues, then Beterbiev broke a rib, and now this.
One would hope that Top Rank would take the hint, reschedule the Meng fight instead, and get that obligation out of the way. Beterbiev turns 36 next month and will have an obvious follow-up opponent in the February 13th Joe Smith Jr.-Maxim Vlasov winner. Adam Deines does not need to be part of this conversation; not to belittle Meng’s abilities, but the Beterbiev we know doesn’t need a tune-up to devastate him and set up further unification.