MONTRÉAL (September 29, 2016) – Ottawa and Outaouais boxing fans in Canada will receive a special Christmas gift when Montreal’s adopted son and the most dangerous world title challenger, Artur Beterbiev (10-0, 10 KOs), faces Paraguay slugger and reigning WBC Latino light heavyweight champion Isidro Ranoni Prieto (26-1-3, 22 KOs) in a real power punching affair, December 23 in Gatineau as part of the GYM Boxing Series, presented by the Casino de Lac Leamy in collaboration with Videotron.

Beterbiev is world ranked by all over the major sanctioning bodies: International Boxing Federation (IBF) #2, World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) #3, World Boxing Organization (WBO) #4, and The Ring magazine #6.

WBO #10 rated contender Prieto has won his last two fights by knockout, since losing by unanimous decision to Eleider Alvarez in a spectacular 12-round fight, in which he refused to give an inch to the WBC # 1 challenger on August 15, 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Expect fireworks as the KO ratio for Beterbiev and Prieto is an incredible 80-percent.

“Despite the claims of some promoters and light heavyweight challengers,” Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM president Yvon Michel said, “it’s a fact that Artur Beterbiev is the most dangerous and biggest threat to all of the world light heavyweight champions All contenders for titles change their minds when it comes to getting in the same ring with him,” said the president of GYM, Yvon Michel.

“Isidro Prieto is a fierce fighter who accepted the challenge, also believing he has the style to repel even the most courageous boxer. He is determined to make a name for himself December 23rd. We certainly admire his determination.”

 

Beterbiev is a bright GYM prospect. A true jewel, the Chechen fighter brutalized the international amateur scene.

The ferocious Beterbiev represented Russia in two Olympic Games in Beijing and London. He also won a gold and silver medals at the prestigious World Amateur Championships, as well as gold medals in numerous amateur tournaments including the Wold Cup and European Championships.

In 2010, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) named him its Boxer of the Year, as the best pound-for-pound amateur fighter in the world. He also defeated current WBO light-heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs.

The gladiator from Daghestan left behind family and friends to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional world champion.

“He has all the qualities required to become world champion,” highly regarded strength-and-conditioning coach Andre Kulesza said of Beterbiev when he first signed a promotional contract with GYM. “He is healthy and always positive. He is highest level of athlete who I have ever had the chance to work with in Montreal. He has a superior genetically than anybody I ever work with and that’s really saying something! Artur is naturally strong, agile and flexible. He will go up very quickly and destroy his rivals. Expect lots of KOs,”

As a professional, Beterbiev has destroyed every opponent he’s faced. In only his sixth fight, he crushed former IBF champion Tavoris Cloud in less than two rounds to capture the NABA strap.

In his Showtime debut, Beterbiev stopped previously undefeated Jeff Page Jr. second round. Spaniard southpaw Gabriel Campillo was next in line, in an IBF eliminator bout for the IBF #2 world ranking, which was televised in the first Premier Boxing Champions show, live on CBS. Campillo, a former WBA champion, was dropped and then viciously knocked out in the fourth round.

Beterbiev knocked out American southpaw Alexander Johnson in the seventh round, live on Spike TV, June 12, 2015 in Chicago.

After a one-year absence due to a shoulder injury, Beterbiev climbed back in the ring, his first main PBC main event broadcasted on ESPN this past June 4 at the Bell Centre against Argentine Olympian Ezequiel Maderna, who failed to get through the fourth round.

Highly ranked by all the sanctioning bodies despite having only 10 pro fights, Beterbiev has opened eyes all around the boxing world, and the scariest part is that it is only the beginning for him.

“I’m really happy with the turn of events,” Beterbiev remarked. During his time in Montreal Prieto has shown that he is a true warrior and that’s the kind of opponent I want to face. “

“With his WBO #10 ranking, “Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay noted, “Prieto is by far the best fighter available to fight Artur. He is very aggressive and his style insures a fight filled with action. “

Prieto has dreamed of becoming the first Paraguayan world boxing champion.

After winning his first six pro fights and the Paraguay national title, he resettled in Argentina in 2009 to continue his development.  In Buenos Aires, Prieto was taken under the wing of the first coach, Raul Paniagua, mentor and uncle of former world championSergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

“We have always encouraged each other, me and Sergio,” Prieto said in an interview with a South American website. “He started from the bottom and that is why we have so many things in common.”

Currently ranked # 10 by the WBO, “El Guerrero” has wiped out South American competition, knocking out most of his rivals, including Brazilian brawler Jackson Junior.

His lone defeat was to WBC Silver champion Alvarez, and since then Prieto has won two bouts, both by knockout.  Slick and freakishly strong with heavy hands, Prieto is a serious threat.

“I’ve worked in various places but the Casino du Lac Leamy is one of the places I love the most, ” added Éric Bélanger, trainer and organizer of events in the Gatineau and Ottawa region “It’s beautiful and prestigious; intimate but the atmosphere is amazing. Everyone connects and is part of the show. Gatineau also has a fan base that loves boxing. With Artur Beterbiev, it will be a major league boxing card, and I am sure that the region will be happy to be part of it.”

Ticket information will soon be announced