The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced on Wednesday that it will seek a detailed medical explanation from Artur Beterbiev regarding his recent injuries.
Top Rank reported last Friday that WBO, WBC and IBF light heavyweight titleholder Artur Beterbiev suffered a torn meniscus in training, canceling a scheduled discussion with WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol. It has been announced that the light heavyweight championship match has been forced to be postponed.
The match was originally scheduled for June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but is now expected to be postponed to later this year.
Following this setback, the WBO asked Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) to share key findings regarding the injury.
“Beterbiev will receive a detailed medical explanation of his injury, findings and prognosis of recovery, as well as a doctor's opinion on when he is physically and medically fit to compete and return to active duty, within the next 10 days. Ordered to submit,” Luis Batista wrote. WBO Championship Committee Chairman Salas said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Failure to comply with this order will result in Beterbiev waiving all rights under this Agreement and the Committee will proceed in accordance with the WBO World Championship Contest Rules.”
The statement, currently available on the WBO website, was issued by Top Rank CEO, Vice President of Boxing Operations, and General Counsel Bob Arum, Karl Moretti, and Jeremy Kogel, and WBO President Francisco Valcarcel. This is a copy of his words.
Beterbiev, 39, has endured a series of injuries since the beginning of this decade from which he never recovered. Since March 2020, he has had five games called off, and not all of them were his fault. A fight with the 33-year-old Bivol (24-0, 17 KOs) could cement his status as a future Hall of Famer.