When Artur Beterbiev first started his boxing career

When did undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev first start boxing?

Just recently, in October 2024, boxing history was created when Artur Beterbiev became crowned the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in a four-belt era.

He is one of only 10 boxers in history to hold all four major governing bodies championships (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO), along with Canelo Alvarez, Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford, to name just a few.

Nearing 40-years-old, Beterbiev will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers of all-time, but when did this journey to greatness first begin?

Read on to discover how the formidable champion first started in the sport.

Artur in the amateurs

Known for his strength and toughness, Artur Asilbekovich Beterbiev was born on January 21, 1985, in Khasavyurt, Russia.

Of Chechen descent, he would become moulded by his tough, impoverished upbringing into the formidable puncher and fearsome fighter he is today.

Aged 10, during the first Chechen war, many civilians were left homeless, so Artur’s family sheltered up to 30 refugees in their unfinished, one-storey home. He said all the boys would live in room and all the girls in another.

Beterbiev’s hometown in the republic of Dagestan was more known for its wrestling pedigree, which Artur tried his hand at, but ultimately was drawn towards boxing instead, influenced by his four older brothers who would take him to the local gym, aged 11, to keep him from getting into trouble on the streets.

His favourite fighters growing up were heavyweight legends Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

As a young teenager, he tragically suffered from the untimely death of his father, Asilbek Beterbiev, after a fatal car accident on a highway in 2001.

Aged 16, he enrolled in a sports scholarship in the RSUFC, but the small amount of 150 Rubles per month was not enough to support his struggling family after the loss of their father.

His four brothers supported Artur financially when he was a junior amateur boxer, which paid off when he became the Russian No.1, after beating the team captain, Evgeny Makarenko, who was a double World and European champion.

He also defeated his international teammate Sergey Kovalev twice in the amateurs, despite Kovalev claiming a robbery both times. ‘Krusher’ even said he would dominate their many sparring sessions, but unfortunately this was never proven by the pair ever settling things in a professional boxing ring.

He defeated Oleksandr Usyk once in the amateurs, in their first of three bouts in 2007, winning 12-10 on points after four-rounds.

However, he lost their next two meetings, firstly at the 2011 World Championships quarter-finals in Azerbaijan; then again in the London 2012 Olympics, which is when he hung up his vest and decided to turn pro.

He ran his record to 295-10, winning two European golds in 2006 and 2010, a World Championships gold in 2009, plus a silver in 2007, and a gold in the 2008 World Cup in Moscow.

Beterbiev boxing pro

After ending his illustrious amateur career, Beterbiev moved to Montreal, Canada to train with Marc Ramsay, and the pair are still a partnership over 11 years later.

Together they reached 20-0 with 20 knockouts, making Artur the only reigning world champion with all knockout wins.

In his last fight on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he was crowned the first and only undisputed light-heavyweight champion in a four-belt era when he narrowly defeated another unbeaten champion, Dmitry Bivol, via mixed decision after 12 trilling rounds.

The back-and-forth fight between the two incredible warriors with very contrasting styles instantly became a modern classic, and the rematch has already been demanded by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, as well by fight fans all over the world.

Beterbiev’s best wins

In the amateurs, Beterbiev gained many notable scalps, such as Oleksandr Usyk and Sergey Kovalev, mentioned earlier. He also beat Yuniel Dorticos, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Michael Hunter, Thabiso Mchunu and Igor Mikhalkin.

Here are some of Artur Beterbiev’s best wins in the professional boxing ranks.