On January 13, 2024, the boxing world's spotlight shines on the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada, for the epic clash between Artur Beterbiev and Callum "Mundo" Smith. The highly anticipated event kicks off at around 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. UK, with the main event's exact timing yet to be confirmed. Catch the live action on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the UK.
In the main event, the undefeated unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, boasting a flawless record of 19 wins with 19 knockouts, enters the ring as the commanding 5:1 favorite to retain his WBC/WBO/IBF world titles against former super middleweight champion Callum Smith, who holds a record of 29 wins and 1 loss, with 21 knockouts.
The undercard showcases gripping matchups, including WBO bantamweight champion Jason "Mayhem" Moloney, standing at 4:1 odds in favor of defending his title against Saul Sanchez, with respective records of 26-2 (19 KOs) and 20-2 (12 KOs).
Moreover, the unbeaten super middleweight Christian Mbilli, holding impressive rankings in WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, emerges as a formidable 12:1 favorite against Rohan Murdock, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown between their records of 25-0 (21 KOs) and 27-2 (19 KOs).
Analysts predict a challenging match for Smith against the punching prowess of Beterbiev, emphasizing Smith's need to employ strategic movement and capitalize on his boxing finesse to secure points. However, the prevailing sentiment points towards Beterbiev claiming victory by TKO once he finds his rhythm in the bout.
The fight card features an array of thrilling matchups:
Jason Moloney vs Saul Sanchez
Christian Mbilli vs Rohan Murdock
Imam Khataev vs Rodolfo Gomez Jr
Christopher Guerrero vs Sergio Garcia Herrera
Mehmet Unal vs Dragan Lepei
Leila Beaudoin vs Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza
Moreno Fendero vs Victor Hugo Flores
Wilkens Mathieu vs Jose Arias Alvare