Previewing the best upcoming fights around the world
OUTSTANDING
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The star ratings indicate how well the writer believes the fighters match up, the fight(s)’ contextual significance, and how good the fight(s) will be
THE one good thing about the delay Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith have had to endure recently is that in the end it benefits neither of them. It is no good for Smith, who has fought just twice in three years (registering shy of six rounds at that) and it is no good for Beterbiev, either, for he has not fought since beating Anthony Yarde 12 months ago and turns 39 later this month. In other words, while no delay is ever ideal, in the case of Beterbiev and Smith, who finally meet this Saturday in Quebec, it is at least no more a hindrance to one boxer than the other.
Ideally, of course, there would not have been a delay at all. Ideally, these two would have met when originally planned, back in August, and Beterbiev would not have suffered a jaw infection which put paid to that date. Moreover, in an ideal world these two stellar light-heavyweights would have been more active, both in recent times and more generally, and
