Beterbiev's defense vs. Deines postponed after positive COVID-19 test

Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev's title defense against Adam Deines on Jan. 30 in Moscow has been postponed after Beterbiev tested positive for COVID-19.

The Russian boxer (15-0, 15 KO) announced his positive test on Instagram.

"Unfortunately, I got (the) coronavirus," Beterbiev said. "Therefore, my fight with Adam Deines, scheduled for Jan. 30, is postponed for a later date. I will try to recover as soon as possible and return to preparations."

As a result, the whole card has been pulled, a Top Rank source told Michael Rothstein of ESPN. The hope is to reschedule the fight for some time in the spring.

Beterbiev was originally supposed to defend his WBC and IBF light heavyweight titles against Meng Fanlong last March, but it was canceled because of the pandemic. The 35-year-old later suffered a rib injury, which forced his fight against Deines to be moved from October to January.

The undefeated Beterbiev hasn't fought since he defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019.