No Fans At Beterbiev-Browne?

Unified champion Artur Betrbiev is making his homecoming fight in Montreal this Friday against mandatory challenger Marcus Browne, but that will have more of a “bubble” feel to it.

Chris Mannix over at DAZN and SI and RDS network in Canada both reported late Thursday that the contest held at the Bell Centre will likely be held without fans. This, as the Canadian government looks to tighten down as COVID Cases have been surging.

In the report. The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, announced a series of measures that would come into force as of December 20, including the reduction to 50% of the capacity for amphitheaters and performance halls.

Malgré les annonces du gouvernement du Québec, les plans ne changent pas pour Beterbiev-Brownehttps://t.co/v4Fk99vpz7

— RDS (@RDSca) December 17, 2021

The news comes down as this goes to publish during tonight’s hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. That game, which aired on ESPN+ here in the States and TSN locally in Canada shows a game that had no fans in attendance.

Big Fight Weekend is being realistic in saying that if the #1 sport associated with Canada isn’t having spectators, this title fight for Beterbiev most likely isn’t either.

In that same RDS report, co-promoter for the event Yvon Michel, tweeted that he expects fans until they tell him no.

“Until proven guilty, we are expecting you for this important and historic event from 7:00 p.m.,” Michel tweeted.

The jury is out on this one, but that ruling likely is coming soon and looking like Canada gets to be the first show this month to have a “bubble boxing” show aired on broadcast television in North America.  Also worth noting in Canada since it is on PPV there, it’s $59.95 there. This, while the rest in the USA will see on ESPN+ with their subscription.

While there won’t be any fans likely for the fight, both fighters made weight today in advance for this fight, with Beterbiev making 175 lbs even after originally coming in .2 pounds over on the 1st try.

This will Russian born Beterbiev’s first fight in Montreal since 2016, as he looks to defend his WBC/IBF titles against the New Yorker Browne.