The matchup between former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Deon Nicholson scheduled for November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been called off according to multiple Nicholson social media posts shared on Thursday.
“Just got word that my fight with Artur Beterbiev was canceled be the will of God I’ll have info on another fight soon,” read the post from Nicholson’s Facebook account.
In a post on Nicholson’s Instagram account: “Still working and preparing for whoever come @arturbeterbiev maybe another day.”
The fight would have been Russia-born Beterbiev’s first since losing all four 175lbs belts to Dmitry Bivol in their rematch last February, and was arranged after Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), had tried and failed to call out Bivol for a rubber match.
Nicholson, 22-1 (18 KOs), a 35-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, had been preparing for a massive step up in competition in Beterbiev, who, despite mounting injuries and his 40 years, would have been far and away the most dangerous opponent in Nicholson’s career.
No reason was given by Nicholson for the cancellation. BoxingScene will follow up with more details on this story as they become available.
