By Luke Furman
Yvon Michel of GYM, who promote top light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (10-0, 10KOs), has outlined the path to a world title for the Russian puncher.
This Friday in Quebec, Beterbiev will battle Isidro Ranoni Prieto (26-1) in a stay-busy fight - which Beterbiev's entire team is taking very seriously. Beterbiev's trainer, Marc Ramsay, says no shortcuts were taken with this contest.
"No, we never [slack off]. This is not a game," recalled Ramsay to RDS. "Especially with a guy like Prieto, who has a good punch, there's no reason to take any chances. If there is an opening, you can be sure that you go for it and take the opportunity."
Ramsay says Beterbiev has been doing a real number on the sparring partners that they have in the gym.
"In fact, there are 6 out of 7 [sparring partners] who have not finished the camp," Ramsay said. "Normally, the training partner is only in there for one round with Artur. I have 3 training partners do 12 rounds and we alternate the partners in each round. And even doing it that way, there are a lot of guys who are not able to keep pace."
Michel has an entire scheduled already mapped out for Beterbiev in 2017, provided the boxer comes away with the win on Saturday.
"I expect this to be the best challenge, the best challenge of Beterbiev's young career," Michel said. "And when the Prieto fight is settled, the plan is clear enough for the year 2017. Artur is an outstanding boxer. I do not think he's in danger of not getting the victory, but I think we're going to have a better challenge than what people can expect.
"On December 26, we will receive a letter from the IBF to tell us that he will be involved in a final elimination bout for a championship shot. This fight is expected to take place in the United States in February. Then we are going to bring Beterbiev here so he can box on the same card as [WBC champion] Adonis Stevenson in April, and the next fight after that is going to be for a world championship."
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org