Thirty one year old light heavyweight knockout artist Artur Beterbiev (9-0-0, 9 KO's) returns from year long layoff Saturday after having shoulder surgery to face Ezequiel Maderna (23-2-0, 15 KO's) in a 12 round fight. Before the layoff, Beterbiev was on a destructive fast track to challenge fellow Russian IBF/WBA/WBO 175 lb. champion Sergey Kovalev whom Beterbiev beat in the amateurs.
Assuming Beterbiev wins Saturday his handlers want two more fights this year on PBC in hopes to set up a future fight with Kovalev. Beterbiev's promoter Yvon Michel says Beterbiev wants to capture all four titles in the division. If all goes as planned by the Beterbiev team, they will still have to wait until 2017 for Kovalev has two scheduled fights for 2016, one with Isaac Chilemba and the other with Andre Ward. If Kovalev is still unbeaten after those two fights, then him and Beterbiev will be a possibility next year. Beterbiev will also have to defeat Adonis Stevenson for the WBC title.
Maderna is coming at Beterbiev off a three fight winning streak, with only two losses. One loss to Edwin Rodriguez and the other to Thomas Oosthuzien, both by decision and both losses occured on his only fights held outside of his native Argentina. Maderna is moving up from super middleweight to light heavyweight for the first time as well.
The undercard will feature welterweight prospects Bryant Perella, (13-0-0,12KO's) from Florida, against David Crayton (14-0-0,10KO's) from Washington D.C. in a 10 rounder. Notably, Crayton is best known for beating Errol 'The Truth' Spence in the 2009 Golden Gloves.
Saturday will be a fun night of fights for boxing fans.
Steven McCowan for Ringside Reporter
Follow me on Twitter @smccowan77
Assuming Beterbiev wins Saturday his handlers want two more fights this year on PBC in hopes to set up a future fight with Kovalev. Beterbiev's promoter Yvon Michel says Beterbiev wants to capture all four titles in the division. If all goes as planned by the Beterbiev team, they will still have to wait until 2017 for Kovalev has two scheduled fights for 2016, one with Isaac Chilemba and the other with Andre Ward. If Kovalev is still unbeaten after those two fights, then him and Beterbiev will be a possibility next year. Beterbiev will also have to defeat Adonis Stevenson for the WBC title.
Maderna is coming at Beterbiev off a three fight winning streak, with only two losses. One loss to Edwin Rodriguez and the other to Thomas Oosthuzien, both by decision and both losses occured on his only fights held outside of his native Argentina. Maderna is moving up from super middleweight to light heavyweight for the first time as well.
The undercard will feature welterweight prospects Bryant Perella, (13-0-0,12KO's) from Florida, against David Crayton (14-0-0,10KO's) from Washington D.C. in a 10 rounder. Notably, Crayton is best known for beating Errol 'The Truth' Spence in the 2009 Golden Gloves.
Saturday will be a fun night of fights for boxing fans.
Steven McCowan for Ringside Reporter
Follow me on Twitter @smccowan77
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