Light heavyweight Marcus Browne apparently holds Artur Beterbiev in very high esteem.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Staten Island’s Browne gave high praise to his former adversary, calling the unified WBC, WBO, IBF 175-pound champion from Russia “a beast.”
It’s not hard to see why.
Beterbiev mauled Browne into ninth-round submission during their 12-round light heavyweight title bout in December of 2021 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Beterbiev’s adopted home. Beterbiev recorded two knockdowns in the process and overcame a gruesome gash on his forehead caused by headbutt that was deemed unintentional by the referee.
It was only the second loss of Browne’s career and the first by stoppage. Beterbiev has stopped all 19 of his opponents.
“Dudes a beast, only person I’ve ever fought that I can say was a beast,” Browne wrote in response to a highlight reel showing Beterbiev battering Anthony Yarde. “All these other MFKAs scary and pick and choose, when I literally said yes to everyone they ever offered! [Shrugs emoji].”
The southpaw Browne, 32, returned to the ring for the first time since the loss to Beterbiev this past August, a 10-round decision over Adrian Taylor in a cruiserweight bout.
Beterbiev, 38, is currently scheduled to defend his three 175-pound titles against mandatory challenger Callum Smith of England on Jan. 13 at Centre Videotron in Quebec City. The two were originally supposed to fight on Aug. 19 but the date had to be postponed after Beterbiev suffered a bone infection in his jaw that required surgery.
Beterbiev’s trainer, Marc Ramsay, recently gave a positive update on his charge.
Boxing fans have been urging organizers to stage an undisputed light heavyweight fight between Beterbiev and WBA champion Artur Beterbiev, but those efforts have been beset with business politics.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.