By Vadim Pushkin
Promoter Yvon Michel of GYM has announced that unbeaten top rated light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (9-0-0, 9 KOs) will face Argentina's Ezequiel Maderna (23-2-0, 15 KOs) on June 4 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The fight will be part of the first Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN card of 2016.
Beterbiev will be fighting for the first time since winning by knockout over Alexander Johnson on June 12, 2015. Beterbiev was fighting for the first time outside of Quebec. He picked up a vacant WBO-NABO world title with the win.
Maderna suffered his only two career defeats to Thomas Oosthuizen and Edwin Rodriguez. He has never been stopped and the loss to Oosthuizen was a close majority decision. Maderna has since won his last three fights, two by technical knockout.
Beterbiev was ordered to take part in a final IBF eliminator last year. Several opponents had turned him down. Eventually a deal was close with a potential opponent, but he suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw. Replacing him in the eliminator was Sullivan Barrera, who was originally slated tof ace Beterbiev but unable to enter Canada due to a legal issue.
The undefeated contender is hoping to have at least 2-3 fights this year with an eventual title shot in the near future.
