(Montreal) It’s not yet a world championship, but Christian Mbilli will face a tough opponent to defend his two belts in the final of the Beterbiev-Smith gala on August 19, in Quebec.
Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) will put his World Boxing Council (WBC) Americas continental and World Boxing Association (WBA) international super middleweight belts against American Demond Nicholson (26- 5-1, 22 KOs).
The 30-year-old American has only been stopped twice in his career and he delivered excellent fights against Demetrius Andrade (in his last outing) and Edgar Berlanga. Both of those losses to two big names in the division came by unanimous decision.
Andrade is ranked No. 1 contender in the WBA and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), in addition to coming in at No. 5 in the WBC. Berlanga ranks fifth in the WBO and 11e of the WBC and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
Mbilli meanwhile is first in the WBC, third in the WBA, fifth in the IBF and ninth in the WBO.
The clash between Mbilli and Nicholson will be featured on the sidelines of the light heavyweight unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith, as Beterbiev looks to defend his WBC, WBO and IBF belts.