By Alexey Sukachev
Artur Beterbiyev, one of the most wanted amateur fighters from Russia to make a shift to the paid ranks, will finally make his pro debut on May 25 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, as a part of the undercard to one of the biggest fights in Canadian history between former champions Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal. Beterbiyev inked a deal with Yvon Michel and his GYM promotional group and will be featured in a four-rounder against a TBA.
The 28-year old native of Dagestan, Russia, had a decorated amateur career, winning a gold medal at the 2006 Euro championships (beating Kenneth Egan and Ismayl Sillakh in the process) and at the 2009 Milano World championships. He was also a silver medalist at the 2007 world championships in chicago and took part in two Summer Olympics. Beterbiyev is best known for his vaunted power and a knockout punch as well as a lack of technical refinement and somewhat questionable stamina.
“He is a beast in the ring”, said Artur’s trainer Mark Ramsey. “I’m an optimist. We shall make a new Tyson of Artur."
