During the 2000s, the Canadian province of Quebec generated some of the most electrifying atmospheres on the global boxing scene. The province has been crazy for fights since the 1900s, but an inflow of world-class talent and, in particular, North American TV distribution established a sparkling golden era for the sport in Canada. Jean Pascal, Lucian Bute, Adonis Stevenson, and David Lemieux arrived with fan bases large enough to fill NHL hockey stadiums, rose to the top of their respective divisions, and became HBO and Showtime regulars. Those in those audiences were educated boxing enthusiasts who were also fueled by passionate provincial and French pride. Pascal-Hopkins, Bute-Andrade, Lemieux-N’Dam, and other boxing matchups drew the most attention from television watchers.
Beterbiev will be crowned this weekend in Quebec City when he defends his title against Callum Smith at the Videotron Centre in an event organised by Eye of the Tiger and broadcast on ESPN.
Quebec has thrived as a boxing market because the stars of the previous period either retired or faded. Eye of the Tiger has a double-digit string of sold-out events at the Montreal Casino, spawning a slew of challengers including Christian Mbilli, Erik Bazinyan, Mary Spencer, Leila Beaudoin, and others. It’s been a process of waiting for the perfect headliner and the right quantity of talent to fill out a large broadcast undercard, leading up to another gala of this magnitude. In November, Le Journal de Montréal declared it the largest card in Quebec “in a long time.”
“We are very grateful and proud that Quebecers responded in such large numbers, which proves that Quebec is (up there with) the biggest boxing cities around the world,” said Camille Estephan, the promoter of the event.
The announcement of the event last year (the bout was eventually postponed due to an infection in Beterbiev’s jaw) surprised many Quebec media members, who expected a Beterbiev-Smith fight to take place in the United Kingdom, which would have undoubtedly produced a raucous crowd of its own, as evidenced by the atmosphere for Beterbiev’s most recent title defence against Anthony Yarde at Wembley Arena.
“I spoke to everyone who mattered when I went to London for Beterbiev versus Yarde.” Bob Arum, Brad Jacobs, Carl Moretti, and especially Jeremy Koegel, a lawyer. I informed them that I was interested in presenting Artur Beterbiev’s future defence. In addition, we have a partnership with ESPN+ and are partners with Top Rank for Arslanbek Makhmudov and Simon Kean. “We know each other and trust each other,” Estephan told Le Journal de Montreal’s Rejean Tremblay.
The goal is for the fight to set up the biggest fight of Beterbiev’s career, a rematch of an amateur battle with fellow light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia. The two are said to have decided on a fight that would pit them against each other.
Smith is interested in derailing those plans—and, to some extent, is troubled by their very existence.
“It is a little disrespectful when there are people in boxing posting (about Beterbiev facing Bivol), and I’m due to fight him in January,” Smith remarked in an interview with Boxing Social. “I believe in my own abilities and believe I can beat him when I’m at my best.” I feel that the best version of myself can outperform anyone in the world. In my opinion, it will be me (defeating) Beterbiev and then me versus Bivol.”
Beterbiev, for one, has resisted even the most tepid prospect of victory over Smith. Beterbiev recently told FightHype’s Sean Zittel, “I didn’t tell you I was going to fight.”
Meanwhile, Beterbiev will take on the role that Pascal, Bute, Stevenson, and Lemieux previously did for him, creating a platform for the next generation of prospective stars. Mbilli and Beaudoin, in particular, will be on the undercard, with Mbilli likely being the Quebec-based fighter regarded in the most regard on the global stage at the time, aside from Beterbiev. The hard-charging super middleweight, who will face Rohan Murdock, has a made-for-TV style that has already created Knockout of the Year contenders like his knockout of Nadjib Mohammedi in 2022 and Fight of the Year contenders like his struggle with Carlos Gongora last year.
“Rohan Murdock is a quality opponent with a unique fighting style.”
The arrangements for future championships and fights are still being worked out, but the event will undoubtedly be a celebration of an era in Canadian boxing as well as a glimpse into the future.
