Artur Beterbiev, a Russia-born boxing star who held the unified light heavyweight title, spoke about the difficult path his career took. In remarks carried by TASS, he said he was compelled to compete under the Canadian flag in order to stay at the top of the sport. He stressed that his identity had long been tied to Russia, a feeling he carried since childhood, and that changing citizenship was a practical move to ensure he could continue to box at the highest level.
He explained that he always felt linked to Russia and had represented his country from a young age. The choice to become a Canadian citizen was made so that his championship status would not be jeopardized and so he could keep fighting on the world stage without interruption.
On the night of October 13, Beterbiev faced a fellow Russian in Dmitry Bivol in a bout that lived up to its billing. The twelve-round clash proceeded with relentless action and finished with judges’ scores of 114–114, 115–113, and 116–112. The result crowned Beterbiev as the absolute world light heavyweight champion, while Bivol tasted defeat in the pro ranks for the first time in his career.
This victory made Beterbiev the first undisputed light heavyweight champion since 2003. He has not lost a single professional fight, boasting a record of 21 wins. The night underscored his grip on all four major belts and his standing as a dominant force in the division.
Earlier in June, Dmitry Bivol had secured a decisive win over Malik Zinad during a boxing event in Saudi Arabia. Before the match with Beterbiev, Bivol had racked up 23 professional victories, adding context to the magnitude of the October showdown.
In Russia, members of the State Duma commented on Beterbiev’s display under the Canadian flag, highlighting the ongoing discussion around national identity in the sport and how allegiance can intersect with a boxer’s career choices.