"There's a difference": absolute world champion and favorite of Kadyrov challenged Usyk

Russian boxer Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs), who shamefully hides under the Canadian flag to take part in fights, has expressed his readiness to fight Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs). After his victory over Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) for the title of absolute world champion in the light heavyweight division, the 39-year-old Dagestani may move up in weight.

Beterbiev himself, who calls the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov his brother, said this in an interview with the propaganda news agency TASS. The Russian added that there would probably be difficulties in organizing a fight against Usyk.

"It's an interesting challenge, but there is a difference in weight classes. However, if they offer it, we will look, react and think," Beterbiev said.

It should be noted that the boxers have met several times at the amateur level. In 2007, at a tournament in Kaliningrad, the Russian won 12:10, and the Ukrainian took revenge in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup and the 2012 Olympics with the same score of 17:13.

Because of these defeats, Beterbiev harbored a grudge against Usyk and accused him of cowardice. And after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he called Oleksandr sick because of his stance against the aggressors.

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