Artur Beterbiev scored another brilliant victory. The Russian boxer again knocked out his opponent – the American did not stay on his feet for two rounds.

However, the holiday for our fans and the athlete himself was overshadowed by a new provocation from the United States. The American channel, which broadcast the fight between Beterbiev and Smith Jr., made a gross mistake.

The Russian boxer performed in front of thousands under … the Canadian flag. In his new homeland, he is already honored as a hero!

Dagestani from Montreal

Artur Beterbiev was born in Dagestan. From a young age, he mastered boxing skills in his homeland, and Russian coaches helped him in this. For a long time, the athlete played as an amateur for our country and brought her victories.

After the end of his amateur career, Volk turned professional and, together with his family, moved to permanent residence in Canada. Over time, the boxer even received a Canadian passport and residence permit, but he never renounced Russian citizenship. Moreover, Arthur has repeatedly confirmed that it is the Russian flag that protects in the ring.

But on the American channel ESPN, they thought otherwise. During a recent fight between Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr., a Canadian flag and the inscription “CAN” flaunted on the plate next to the name of our boxer.

No one expected to see the Russian tricolor on American television in today’s realities. However, for cases such as the current one, the sport has a simple solution – a neutral flag. The choice of the “maple leaf” by American directors is either a mistake or an outright provocation.

It is curious that Arthur has been deprived of Russian citizenship more than once in this way. Back in 2019, when our boxers were not restricted from using the flag, Beterbiev was “made” Canadian before the fight with Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“Beterbiev is Canadian”

Ignorant Americans and Canadians, apparently, bought into the provocation of TV people. And soon after the fight, they began to praise the champion as their own:

Beterbiev is the greatest Canadian boxer since George Chavalo. He is a true hero of Canada,” praised Beterbiev @karnivore2004.

Beterbiev is Canadian. He deserves praise from the government and from all of Canada. But he won’t get it, because this country doesn’t give a damn about boxing,” said @Lionel__Vaz.

– In Canada, there is a hellish world boxing champion Artur Beterbiev. The guy could take down the wall. 18 fights, 18 knockouts, @BinkyBaxter1 rejoiced.

Yes, he was born in Russia. But Beterbiev is a citizen of Canada. He also has a Canadian license, @jonathanbest17 reasoned.

– I love the Canadian-Dagestan light heavyweight champion. Uppercuts like Mike Tyson, Arthur admired @JoshJPerry.

“The flag of Canada next to Beterbiev brings tears”

But not all viewers who watched the fight between Arthur and Joe Smith appreciated the action of the broadcast directors:

– He never studied boxing in Canada, not a product of this country, as they say. I love Beterbiev, but he is not a Canadian boxer,” said @soupelipton.

“The Bivol fight lost some of its luster after Beterbiev suddenly became Canadian, but a Russian vs Russian fight in Russia would just be more interesting,” @techlidbull wondered.

“I had no idea that Beterbiev was Canadian,” @Jaspr_Jonsn echoed the previous commentator.

“The flag of Canada next to Beterbiev brings tears, this man is Russian,” @jonvillanueva_ lamented.

— ESPN, I’m not sure that it was necessary to put the Canadian flag next to Beterbiev, given that he was born and raised in Russia. Yes, he lives in Canada, but I don’t remember that this happened in the battles of Lennox Lewis, ”I recalled a similar situation with the British boxer @MartinMulcahey.

Beterbiev himself has not yet reacted in any way to the provocation from the United States, but in the past he reacted extremely negatively to such tricks of television people. It is unlikely that Arthur will remain silent even now.