Boxing: Artur Beterbiev to Face Alexander Johnson on PBC on Spike Undercard

Surging light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev was supposed to take on another rugged, battle-tested veteran on Friday night, but original opponent Doudou Ngumbu pulled out earlier in the week. Luckily for those looking to watch the young knockout artist need not fear as Beterbiev will still be looking to knock someone’s block off.

Replacing Ngumbu will be Alexander "The Great" Johnson, who is fresh off a first round knockout win over Henry Buchanan in September. Johnson (16-2, 7 KOs), who hails from Maryland, isn’t quite as experienced as Ngumbu, but he’s fought professionally for almost a decade and has lost only twice. Though he hasn’t taken on the level of competition as Beterbiev, he is expected to provide the Russian-Canadian a sturdy enough test.

Beterbiev, on the other hand, has been ascending the pro ranks rapidly, having knocked out every one of his eight opponents. His signature win was a second-round destruction of Tavoris Cloud, but he’s also taken formidable men like Jeff Page Jr. and Gabriel Campillo to the wood shed as well.

The Beterbiev-Johnson scrap is the chief support bout to the Erislandy Lara versus Delvin Rodriguez bout, which will be televised live on Spike TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The even will be held inside the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.