At the end of January of the upcoming 2023, the Russian Artur Beterbiev will defend his three championship belts at the London Wembley. Claims for world titles according to WBC, IBF and WBO this time British Anthony Yard. For our athlete, this will be the second rival from England in the professional ring. The duel with the first turned out to be extremely difficult: the applicant knocked down the Russian.

Invaluable experience for a champion.

“I respect him”

In October 2018, IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev made his first title defense in Chicago against Brit Callum Johnson. The opponent had 17 professional victories behind him without a single defeat, moreover, he completed most of the fights ahead of schedule.

“He is a good boxer with good experience as an amateur and as a professional. I respect him and prepare for this fight very seriously. I will do my best to win. I don’t think how to knock him out, I’m just trying to do everything, and not move in one direction, ”Vringe quoted Beterbiev.

Johnson also seemed to treat his opponent with respect, but there was still too much self-confidence in his words that was unacceptable even for a defended champion many times. On the eve of the fight, in an interview with the Fight Disciples YouTube channel, Callum did not hesitate to give the most daring predictions about the outcome.

– He’s a man. If the blow hits the chin, he will fall like any other. He is no different from others. I know that I have the power to knock out anyone. When will I knock him out? As soon as my fist lands,” Johnson said.

Invaluable experience

The Briton felt confident not only before the fight, but also during the fight – at least at the initial stage. He settled down in a businesslike way in the center of the ring and even tried to corner Arthur. The Russian tried to stop these attempts with his hard punches, and shortly before the end of the first round he knocked down his opponent. Johnson barely recovered from a heavy attack, but only a few seconds remained before the break, which saved him.

Artur Beterbiev and Callum Johnson / Photo: © Jonathan Daniel / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Logic suggested that events would follow a very likely scenario. Beterbiev will come out and finish off his slightly unfinished opponent. Headlong, of course, the Russian did not pop, but he really rewarded Callum with heavy blows. Surely they were sensitive, but the Briton did not fall. But after another attack by the enemy, Arthur himself fell. The referee started the countdown, but the knockout did not happen – the champion came to his senses.

Further, the audience was expected by a short segment of the fight, when both boxers, having just recovered from heavy blows, were in no hurry to force events. It made no sense for Beterbiev to go on the rampage, it was more important to recover in the next round. Johnson could theoretically try to squeeze the enemy, but he failed to set unsolvable tasks for the Russian.

By the fourth round, the champion had finally recovered from his first knockdown in his career. The Briton continued to try to pin Arthur in the corner, but it did not help him much. The next attack on the Russian at the ropes ended badly for the applicant. Beterbiev treated Johnson with a right hook – he fell, barely got up, but looked so insecure that the referee did not dare to continue the fight. Ultimately, the Russian was credited with the victory by technical knockout.

Of course, the Russian champion rejoiced at the successful defense, but still considered that he could not show his best boxing. The knockdown blurred the impression of an early victory, which Beterbiev himself understood. However, you also need to go through such fights. At a press conference, Arthur said that he had gained invaluable experience, which, as can be seen from subsequent battles, benefited him.