Artur Beterbiev defies promoter Yvon Michel due to his boxing match canceled on Wednesday. Previously Beterbiev was rejected a visa to fight in the USA against German boxer Koelling on July 29 in New York.
The GYM boss didn’t say why the visa was rejected on June 21. However, he denied to be blamed for this case on Wednesday. “Beterbiev should have advised us before,” Michel said to media. “He should have told us before his visa expired. We didn’t know.
“It’s not true, you don’t have a contract to get a visa and boxer in the United States. World boxers from outside the USA don’t need a work permit. This is a tourist visa they need given that they have a contract with a promoter outside the United States.
“They are paid outside the United States. It’s like a Canadian journalist covering a fight in Las Vegas. He doesn’t need a work permit because his employer is in Canada.” Michel added.
After a visa canceled, Arthur’s lawyer Master Karim Renno revealed why his client rejected to fight in the United States. “To make a brief and very simple story, Artur’s fight was not canceled because he is not able to have an American visa. The fight was canceled because he refuses to drop his civil lawsuit against the GYM.” Renno said.
Beterbiev refused and it was then that GYM allegedly had a visa problem to cancel the fight against Koelling with 23-1 fight record.
“For several week, the Yvon Michel Group has been very clear with Artur, both directly and through their lawyers, that if we didn’t drop our pursuit, the fight would be canceled,” Renno said.
“I’m very surprised to see Yvon Michel makes the media tour and pretend in a bizarre way that it is Artur’s fault because he didn’t apply for a visa in time and should have advised GYM earlier. It’s very disturbing for us.” Renno added.
Artur Beterbiev wants his fight reschedule before the end of the year. (Source:www.thefightcity.com)
However, the IBF should now re-tender to determine if another schedule and venue could be suitable for both boxers.
The Canadian boxer, a 2009 amateur world champion, has stopped all of his rivals before the distance. He rated fourth in the world among light heavyweight contenders by the Ring Magazine.
