Artur Vs Marcus Firefight! + WBC Stats
By James Blears
Make no mistake about the fact that the fight between WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and challenger Marcus Browne at the Bell Centre, Montreal on Saturday December 17th is going to be a resounding battle plus a: “For whom the bell tolls” classic… to remember for years!
It`s the final World Boxing Council world title fight of the year. Best to last?
Southpaw Marcus aged thirty one (24-1, 16 KO`s) is a worthy and seasoned opponent, who`s absolutely earned this opportunity, for the culmination of a nine years pro career. His mission is to halt that undented, undaunted, unblemished and undimmed one hundred percent KO streak. To mentally will himself to overcome and confound that victory upon victory ethos, in which Artur is so resolutely reinforced as well as so utterly convinced.
Marcus has only been defeated by thirty six year old big hitter Jean Pascal in a war for the vacant WBC Silver Belt, in which he also lost his WBA Interim Belt. Coincidently, Artur who`s thus far stopped ALL of his sixteen opponents as a pro since 2013, is also thirty six years old. Marcus has never ever fought someone who so harshly applies a clouting level of non- stop grind down relentless unremitting pressure as Artur, with no opportunities for respite, contemplation or a split second loss of concentration.
Tall, lithe, elegant and rangy, Marcus from Staten Island, stands six feet two inches tall. He has a long seventy six inch reach, which he will need to judiciously use, to try as he might, keep the surging Artur at bay and on the outside, avoiding a telephone box style slugfest, at which the champion is so ruthlessly adept. The Marcus right jab will need to crisp, accurate and as frequent as the Greenwich Time Signal, followed up by scything scalding lefts, especially to the shorter and more compact body of Artur. Pawing right leads, in an attempt to range-find, would be a very serious and costly tactical error.
At his best and most effective maintaining long range, Marcus will need to use every inch of the ring utilizing, the fluidity of mobility and every segment of his boxing guile, to prevent Artur from closing down the distance, moving in crowding him, and blasting away with cluster bombs. An elusive marksman, Marcus` left hand is accurate and effective. It lands often and well. Against Artur, he`ll have to impact with a very high volume of combinations, countermanding Artur`s trademark punch volume tally.
Against Jean Pascal, Marcus carelessly lowered his guard, got caught and dropped hard by a short counter right in the fourth. Same punch, but even harder dropped him in the seventh and then a glancing left hook felled him yet again. A clash of heads in the eighth opened a terrible cut over Marcus` left eye and it went to the scorecards.
Jean won 75-74 on all three. Initially in front, Marcus lost the thread, the theme and with the points totted up via the knockdowns, he lost a technical decision. To his credit, Marcus got up each time he was canvassed. On the first occasion, he did so rather too quickly. The second time he was wobbly. He was still rather at sea when the third came, but he survived them all. Tough son of a gun!
He started so well, but as the fight progressed he faded. He simply can`t afford to do this against Artur, who invariably gets stronger as the fight wears and tears on.
Marcus has quick hands and he`s a good body puncher. He has a three inch reach advantage, and to win this one, he must consistently employ it throughout. Although Marcus is physically strong and can more than hold his own in clinches, he`s not a natural brawler. He`d do well to stay back and stay away from the close quarters combat at which Artur excels.
Every time I see Artur in action, the hairs stand up on my neck and a chill goes down my spine. His avowed aim and intention is to punch through an opponent, break up and then break down the resistance, by bulldozing, swinging in the wrecking ball. His boxing style isn`t that similar to that of Rocky Marciano but his intention is identically ferocious and numbing. I`m also constantly tempted to add an H to his name…but “That would be unwise?”
Marcus` best fight to date was against Badou Jack. He was sharp, alert, vigilant and fast on his feet, using superb ring generalship to often beat Badou to the punch. An accidental clash of heads opened a fearful vertical gash on Badous forehead in the seventh. Marcus was the worthy UD victor as it went the distance, winning the titles he then lost to Pascal. After two years out of the ring, Marcus bounced back to win a UD against Denis Grachev, looking good.
Marcus has a wide stance and is good defensively. He`s also impressive when pressing the attack. He`s quick to spot and exploit opportunities. He will need to capitalize on all of this and even more, because he`s in the fight of his career as well as the fight of his life… against Artur.
Artur`s best fight was against WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk who was also unbeaten. This was a war, which initially was fought on even terms, with neither fighter willing to back down or back off. Artur weathered some blistering punches to gain dominance. But as the rounds piled up along with the blows, little by little he was getting the better of the exchanges. His pace never slackened and he won by overwhelming Oleksandr.
A cluster of punches dropped the valiant Ukrainian in the tenth. Oleksandr bravely got up but was put down again and the Referee saved him at 2.49 of that round.
I believe that Marcus will prove Artur`s most difficult and cagey opponent. Standing toe to toe with the Russian/Canadian is tantamount to suicide. Marcus must endeavor to keep him at range, pick him off and prevent Artur from fighting in the pocket.
The real test will come after the first few rounds have elapsed and the punches start to take effect and affect. Artur, who had vast amateur experience, including a silver and a gold medal at the Amateur World Championships, can box effectively if he chooses. He`s not as easy to hit as many think. It`ll all boil down to a war of attrition. Puncher Vs boxer.
Will Marcus be the first pro to go the full distance, and even defeat Artur on points or before the final bell clanging? Or, will he be number 17th on the 17th?
WBC STATS
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL
Jose Sulaimán
WBC HONORARY POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME PRESIDENT (+)
Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC PRESIDENT
WBC LT. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
BELL CENTRE
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA
DECEMBER 17, 2021
TV: ESPN
THIS WILL BE THE WBC’S 2, 125 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FIGHT IN THE FIFTY-EIGHT YEAR HISTORY OF THE WBC
TOP RANK PRESENTS:
ARTUR BETERBIEV MARCUS BROWNE
(RUSSIA) (US)
WBC CHAMPION OFFICAL CHALLENGER / WBC no. 1
Nationality: Russia Nationality: USA
Date of Birth: January 21, 1985 Date of Birth: November 10, 1990
Birthplace: Khasavyrut, Russia Birthplace: Staten Island, New York
Residence: Montreal, Canada Residence: Carteret, New Jersey
Age: 37 Age: 31
Record: 16-0-0, 16 ko’s Record: 24-1-0, 16 ko’s
% KO’s: 100% % KO’s: 64%
Guard: Orthodox Guard: Southpaw
Total rounds: 72 Total rounds: 113
World Title fights: 3 (3-0-0) World Title fights: 2 (1-1-0)
Manager: Marc Ramsay Manager: Al Haymon
Promoter: Top Rank Promoter: PBC
WBC´S LT. HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
NAME PERIOD AS CHAMPION
- HAROLD JOHNSON (US) + 1963
- WILLIE PASTRANO (US) + 1963 – 1965
- JOSE TORRES (P. RICO) + 1965 – 1966
- DICK TIGER (NIGERIA) + 1966 – 1968
- BOB FOSTER (US) + 1968 – 1974
- JOHN CONTEH (GB) 1974 – 1977
- MIGUEL ANGEL CUELLO (ARG) + 1977 – 1978
- MATE PARLOV (YUGOSLAVIA) + 1978
- MARVIN JOHNSON (US) 1978 – 1979
- MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMMAD (US) + 1979 – 1981
- DWIGHT MUHAMMAD QAWI (US) 1981 – 1983
- MICHAEL SPINKS (US) 1983 – 1985
- B. WILLIAMSON (US) 1985 – 1986
- DENNIS ANDRIES (GB) 1986 – 1987
- THOMAS HEARNS (US) 1987
- DON LALONDE (CAN) 1987 – 1988
- RAY LEONARD (US) 1988
- DENNIS ANDRIES (GB) 1989 *
- JEFF HARDING (AUSTRALIA) 1989 – 1990
- DENNIS ANDRIES (GB) 1990 – 1991 *
- JEFF HARDING (AUSTRALIA) 1991 – 1994 *
- MIKE MCCALLUM (JAMAICA) 1994 – 1995
- FABRICE TIOZZO (FRA) 1995 – 1996
- ROY JONES (US) 1996 – 1997
- MONTELL GRIFFIN (US) 1997
- GRACIANO ROCCHIGIANI (GER) (INTERIM) 1998
- ROY JONES (US) 1997 – 2003 *
- ANTONIO TARVER (US) 2003
- ROY JONES (US) 2003 – 2004 *
- ANTONIO TARVER (US) 2004 *
- TOMASZ ADAMEK (POLAND) 2005 – 2007
- CHAD DAWSON (US) 2007 – 2008
- ADRIAN DIACONU (ROMANIA/CANADA) 2008 – 2009
- JEAN PASCAL (HAITI/CANADA) 2009 – 2011
- CHAD DAWSON (US) INTERIM 2009 – 2010 *
- BERNARD HOPKINS (US) 2011 – 2012
- CHAD DAWSON (US) 2012 – 2013 *
- ADONIS STEVENSON (HAITI/CANADA) 2013 – 2018
- OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK (UKRAINE) 2018 – 2019
- ARTUR BETERBIEV (RUSSIA) 2019 –
* REGAINED
WBC´S LT. HEAVYWEIGHT TOP TEN CHAMPIONS
- ROY JONES (US)
- BERNARD HOPKINS (US)
- BOB FOSTER (US)
- MICHAEL SPINKS (US)
- JOHN CONTEH (GB)
- MIKE MCCALLUM (JAMAICA)
- JOSE TORRES (P. RICO)
- DICK TIGER (NIGERIA)
- MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMMAD (US)
- CHAD DAWSON (US)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE LT. HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
32 WORLD CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE WBC OF WHICH ONLY 4 HAVE REGAINED THEIR TITLE:
DENNIS ANDRIES (GB)
JEFF HARDING (AUSTRALIA)
ROY JONES (US)
ANTONIO TARVER (US)
CHAD DAWSON (US)
126 LT. HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC IN 15 COUNTRIES
THIS IS WILL BE THE 22nd LT. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN CANADA IN THE WBC HISTORY.
WORLD LT. HEAVWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY IN WBC HISTORY
USA 75
CANADA 21
ENGLAND 10
FRANCE 4
AUSTRALIA 3
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2
ITALY 2
GERMANY 2
YUGOSLAVIA 1
SOUTH AFRICA 1
RUSSIA 1
ROMANIA 1
PUERTO RICO 1
MONACO 1
DENMARK 1
TOTAL FIGHTS 126
– IN THIS DIVISION BOB FOSTER (US) HOLDS THE TITLE DEFENSES RECORD WITH 14.
WORLD LT. HEAVWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY CITIES IN WBC HISTORY
ATLANTIC CITY 14
LAS VEGAS 11
MONTREAL 9
LONDON 8
NEW YORK 8
QUEBEC CITY 6
TORONTO 4
TAMPA 4
PHILADELPHIA 3
MIAMI 3
ALBUQUERQUE 2
CHICAGO 2
HARTFORD 2
INDIANAPOLIS 2
LEDYARD 2
LOS ANGELES 2
NEW ORLEANS 2
PORT OF SPAIN 2
SCRANTON. 2
ADELAIDE 1
BALTIMORE 1
BELGRADE 1
BERLIN 1
BIARRITZ 1
BILOXI 1
BISMARCK 1
BRISBANE 1
BUCHAREST 1
COPENHAGEN 1
DETROIT 1
DUSSELDORF 1
FLUSHING 1
HALIFAX 1
INGLEWOOD 1
JOHANNESBURG 1
LIVERPOOL 1
LYON 1
MANCHESTER 1
MARSALA 1
MARSELLA 1
MASHANTUCKET 1
MCAFEE 1
MELBOURNE 1
MILAN 1
MISSOULA 1
MONTECARLO 1
MOSCOW 1
OKLAHOMA CITY 1
PENSACOLA 1
PORTLAND 1
SACRAMENTO 1
SAN DIEGO 1
SAN JUAN 1
ETIENNE 1
TUCSON 1
VANCOUVER 1
SPRINGFIELD 1
________________
TOTAL FIGHTS: 126
WBC TITLE FIGHTS IN CANADA:
40 BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN CANADA IN THE ENTIRE WBC HISTORY
THIS WILL BE THE 28th WBC TITLE BOUT IN LT. HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION CELEBRATED IN CANADA
BREAKDOWN BY DIVISION:
LT. HEAVY 27
SUPERMIDDLE 7
WELTER 2
HEAVY 1
SUPERLIGHT 1
BRIDGERWEIGHT 1
MIDDLE 1
TOTAL: 40
