By Jim Dower: A match between top contenders Artur Beterbiev (11-0, 11 KOs) and Enrico Koelling (23-1, 6 KOs) are in the works for an IBF eliminator at light heavyweight, according to ESPN. Beterbiev vs. Koelling will decide the mandatory challenger for Andre Ward, the IBF champion. Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel is working with Koelling’s promoters at Sauerland Events to put the Beterbiev-Koelling fight together. The match could take place before the summer in May if everything goes with the negotiations.
Beterbiev wants to get back inside the ring as soon as possible. Beterbiev last fought in December in beating Isidro Prieto by a 1st round knockout victory. Koelling last fought in February in beating Ryno Liebenberg by a 10 round decision in a rematch. Koelling defeated Liebenberg by a 12 round split decision in their first fight last October. Like the first fight, the rematch between them was close. Liebenberg’s fighting style has proven difficult for Koelling due to his punching power. Koelling is not a puncher, so he doesn’t look as good when facing fighters with power.
Beterbiev was set and ready to fight Sullivan Barrera in the IBF title eliminator fight in Miami, Florida. The fight had a date of April 21, and they had already had a purse bid for the fight, which Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel won. Ultimately, the 34-year-old Barrera decided not to fight Beterbiev because of the deal not being to his liking.
Koelling “is the only (IBF rated) contender willing to fight Beterbiev for the position,” said Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel to ESPN.com.
With huge punching power, Beterbiev looks really hard to beat right now. It’s understandable why contenders wouldn’t want to fight Beterbiev. They’re clearly better off sidestepping him and working their way to a title shot without taking on someone as good as the Russian fighter. Koelling is brave in deciding he wants to test his boxing ability against Beterbiev, because it could be hard night for him.
Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev will be fighting a rematch on June 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s a 50-50 fight. There’s a possibility that Ward could lose this time around. It changes nothing for the Beterbiev-Koelling fight. The winner of that fight will be guaranteed a title shot against the winner of the Ward vs. Kovalev fight unless they drop the IBF belt. Kovalev isn’t likely to do that. It’s hard to predict what Ward will do. If Ward retains his IBF title in the rematch with Kovalev, then he’ll need to make a decision whether it’s worth it to keep the belt and face the Beterbiev-Koelling winner or vacate and look for the bigger fights.
David Benavidez faces Rogelio Medina in WBC super middleweight title eliminator
Unbeaten #8 WBC David Benavidez (17-0, 16 KOs) will be fighting #9 WBC Rogelio “Porky” Medina (37-7, 31 KOs) in a World Boxing Council super middleweight title eliminator. The winner of the Benavidez-Medina fight will be the mandatory challenger for the WBC 168 lb. title, which is currently vacant. Anthony Dirrell will be fighting Callum Smith for the vacant WBC title soon. There still isn’t a date and venue for the Benavidez vs. Medina fight, but it’s expected to be announced soon.
The 20-year-old Benavidez worked with IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin as a sparring partner recently to help him get ready for his March 18 fight against Daniel Jacobs.
Benavidez looked good in his last fight against Sherali Mamajonov in stopping him in the 2nd round last January. In Benavidez’s previous performance, he stopped Denis Douglin in the 10th round in August of last year. It was a so-so performance from Benavidez. He looked powerful throughout the fight, but his defensive skills weren’t good, and he looked like he was fading late in the fight. Benavidez still got the stoppage, but he showed that he has a lot of work to do before he’ll be ready for the top fighters at 168.
Medina, 28, lost a 12 round unanimous decision to IBF World super middleweight champion James DeGale last April in Washington, DC. Medina gave a good account of himself in pressuring DeGale hard for 12 rounds in a losing effort. Medina bounced back from that defeat to beat Ramon Olivas by a 2nd round knockout last December.
This is a dangerous fight for the 20-year-old Benavidez to be taking at this early stage in his pro boxing career. Medina is a big puncher, and he’s been around the block. Medina is eight years older than Benavidez, and he’s been in with much better opposition.