Gvozdyk-Beterbiev Unification Bout set for October
The light heavyweight division has a unification bout on the docket as it was made known on Wednesday that unbeaten Oleksandr Gvozdyk will take on Artur Beterbiev in October.
Beterbiev posted on his Twitter that the bout will happen on October 18. Boxingscene.com is also reporting that the date is fluid and could take place either October 11 or October 25th.
Whenever it happens, we have a great matchup in October in the United States. The bout will be carried on the ESPN family of networks as both boxers are signed to Top Rank Boxing.
Good news! I signed a contract for unification fight with Oleksandr Gvozdyk @alex_gvozdyk for #IBF and #WBC belts. The bout will be on 18 October, USA.
У меня отличная новость! Я подписал контракт на объединительный бой с Александром Гвоздиком @alex_gvo… https://t.co/ZVv11RJrX7 pic.twitter.com/QPvc7UKHTi
— Artur Beterbiev (@ABeterbiev) July 17, 2019
Gvozdyk (17-0, 14 KOs) was successful in defense of his WBC title when he defeated Doudou Ngumbu in the fifth round by injury stoppage back in March. Ngumbu had injured his right calf in the 5th round and could not continue. Gvozdyk was awarded the technical knockout victory, but before the stoppage was well in control of the contest controlling the pace and landing more shots throughout the fight.
Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KOs) has the IBF light heavyweight world title and last defended it by stopping Radivoje Kalajdzic in Sacramento back in May. Beterbiev in that contest got the ref to halt it in the fifth after dealing some severe punishment to Kalajdzic. Beterbiev knocked him down in the third round and in the fourth had him hurt leading to the stoppage in the opening seconds of the fifth.
“I worked very hard for this fight. I went 100 percent in the gym. Maybe one day I’ll show my boxing skills,” Beterbiev said after the fight with Kalajdzic. “I want unification fights. It doesn’t matter who it is. I am happy to be working with Top Rank and ESPN.”
Gvozdyk said after the fight with Ngumbu, “My goal is to unify titles. I will wait to see what my team tells me to do next.”
Well, they both have their wish, and we’ll wait for the location for this bout in October.
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
