Umar Salamov: record, next fight and profile →
Light heavyweight contenders Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov on Tuesday were ordered to meet for the vacant WBO world title. The WBO sent a letter to Star Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia, Smith’s co-promoter, and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, Vlasov’s promoter, ordering the fight.
The fight between Russian boxers Umar Salamov and Maxim Vlasov has been pushed back due to coronavirus, according to information provided by the event organizers to Tass.
Unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s title defense against Adam Deines will be rescheduled with the probable date being Dec. 11 at the 14,000-seat CSKA Arena in Moscow, a source with knowledge of the plans told BoxingScene.com.
The king of the light heavyweight division returns to his roots in order to defend his throne. Artur Beterbiev will make his first career appearance in his native Russia, doing so in a lineal light heavyweight championship defense versus Adam Deines (19-1-1, 10KO). Their bout will take place September 25, on a special Friday afternoon edition of Top Rank Boxing live on ESPN from Moscow, Top Rank formally announced on Tuesday.
Unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s title defense against Adam Deines is moving to a new date and venue, and will be paired with a light heavyweight world title elimination fight between Maxim Vlasov and Umar Salamov, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told BoxingScene on Monday.
Hours before Joe Smith Jr. punched his way toward a light heavyweight title shot, potential future opponent Maksim Vlasov was forced to go to drastic measure to remain active. The former title challenger was reduced to accepting an exhibition bout for his latest ring appearance, which came over the weekend in Kazan, roughly five hours from his hometown of Samara, Russia. Vlasov (45-3, 26KOs) won what amounted to a 10-round decision over countryman Sergei Ekimov this past Saturday, in a fight that took place outside of the light heavyweight limit and without official sanctioning.
Joe Smith Jr. senses he has successfully navigated the most treacherous part of his path toward winning the WBO light heavyweight title. The heavy-handed contender doesn’t know anything about Umar Salamov or Maksim Vlasov, both of whom he’ll start studying soon. Those that are familiar with those Russian contenders have informed Smith that neither of them are as formidable as Eleider Alvarez, the former WBO champion Smith knocked out in the ninth round Saturday night at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas
As a title eliminator is now set between Eleider Alvarez and Joe Smith Jr., the other side of the light heavyweight bracket now awaits its marching orders. Alvarez (25-1, 13KOs) and Smith (25-3, 20KOs) are heading towards a light heavyweight collision in July, as part of a four-man tournament ordered earlier this year by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). Their bout is tentatively slated to take place July 16 at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas, as part of Top Rank’s summer series on ESPN and its accompanying platforms.
Top Rank has signed Russian light heavyweight Umar Salamov, the WBO No. 2 contender, to a multi-fight promotional agreement. From Grozny, Russia, the 25-year-old is trained and managed by Kevin Barry, who is known for his work with the likes of David Tua, Robbie Peden and Joseph Parker.
A final four has been established to fill the light heavyweight void left behind by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Less than 12 hours after BoxingScene.com reported the confusion surrounding the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight title, the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body has ordered a pair of elimination contests. Representatives for the top four contenders—Gilberto Ramirez, Umar Salamov, Maksim Vlasov and Eleider Alvarez—were contacted by the WBO and required to respond within 24 hours whether the boxers are ready to participate in the assigned elimination contests.