WBO Demands Medical Explanations from Beterbiev

Luis Batista Salas, the head of the WBO committee, sent a letter to Bob Arum, president of the promotional company Top Rank, demanding a detailed medical explanation for the injury of Artur Beterbiev, the WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight champion. Due to this injury, his fight against WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol was canceled.

"We inform that on Friday, May 3, 2024, Top Rank confirmed in an official press release that Artur Beterbiev suffered a meniscus tear during training, therefore postponing his scheduled fight for the light heavyweight championship against Dmitry Bivol, which was supposed to take place on June 1, 2024, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the press release, the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight is planned to be rescheduled for the end of the year. Therefore, considering the above, Beterbiev is required within the next 10 days to provide a detailed medical explanation of his injury, conclusions, recovery forecast, and a statement from his doctor regarding when he will be physically and medically cleared to compete and when he can return to active training.

Failure to comply with this order will result in Beterbiev being deprived of all rights provided by this document, and the Committee will begin actions in accordance with the WBO competition regulations," the letter stated.

Beterbiev has been replaced – the Bivol fight will still take place on June 1.