Adam Deines Faces Fight of His Life Against Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev

Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will step back into the ring for the first time in nearly 18 months on Saturday when he defends his belts against Adam Deines at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia.

Beterbiev initially prepared to fight Deines on Jan. 30, but promoter Top Rank postponed the fight when the champion tested positive for COVID-19.

Beterbiev returns to ring after string of delays

That was the latest in a string of postponements and cancellations for the Russian. He missed a fight against Meng Fanlong last March due to the coronavirus pandemic, then postponed his bout against Deinies on Oct. 23 due to a rib injury.

Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) says he’s now ready to fight and isn’t worried about ring rust.

“I have had a lot of experience with these kinds of long layoffs, unfortunately, and so I know how to deal with them,” Beterbiev said via Yahoo Sports. “I feel like there is no question that you will see my best self [on Saturday]. I am ready to perform.”

Beterbiev has won every fight of his career, and has won all of them by knockout. Naturally, oddsmakers expect more of the same on Saturday. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Beterbiev as a -3500 favorite over Deinies (+1550), and also see the champion as a massive -850 pick to win by knockout or TKO.

𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙧 is ready to protect his throne 😤

Don’t miss him defend both Light Heavyweight crowns for the first time Saturday on ESPN at 3pm ET. pic.twitter.com/RVNMj6jW0F

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 18, 2021

Deines (19-1-1, 10 KOs) doesn’t hold a reputation or a resume equal to that of Beterbiev, and this will be his first major title fight. Deines lost the highest-profile fight of his career in 2019 when Meng beat him by unanimous decision for the IBF Intercontinental title.

Could Canelo be next?

Since that time, Deines has beaten two little-known fighters, and like Beterbiev, hasn’t stepped into the ring since late 2019. But while this is a huge step up in competition for the German, Deines says he has prepared for the opportunity.

“It’s the biggest challenge in my boxing life,” Deines told RingTV. “I feel very fit, well prepared, and I’m very optimistic in my first chance to grab a world title belt. Even if it will be very difficult, I will invest everything and reward myself for all the many years of hard training. Beterbiev is a strong and tough guy with a 100% KO record, the only world champion with such a record. But he’s also only a human being with weaknesses.”

Still, the most likely outcome is another knockout victory for Beterbiev. If that occurs, the undefeated champion is targeting a bigger name for his next right: Canelo Alvarez.

“It would be no problem on my side if there’s a chance to make that fight,” Beterbiev said. “I would like to take it. That would be the kind of fight I want.”