Setback for Beterbiev-Bivol 2 Undercard as Bradley Rea’s Fight Cancelled

The highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol has encountered a minor setback on its undercard. Bradley Rea, a promising 26-year-old boxer, has lost his opportunity to showcase his skills due to an unexpected turn of events.

Rea’s opponent, the undefeated Constantino Nanga, has been forced to withdraw from their scheduled bout on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to an injury. This development has brought Rea’s intense six-week training camp to an abrupt and disappointing conclusion.

While the main event for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship remains intact, this cancellation has removed an intriguing 175-pound matchup from the card. Rea, whose record stands at 20-1 with 10 knockouts, shared the unfortunate news on his social media platforms, appealing to boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh to reschedule the fight with Nanga.

Rea’s career has seen significant progress since his breakout performance in 2021, where he achieved a spectacular first-round knockout against Lee Cutler. Despite a setback in his bid for the English middleweight title against Tyler Denny, Rea has remained undefeated in six fights since moving up to the light-heavyweight division.

This cancellation, while disappointing, may only be a temporary obstacle for Rea. As he looks to establish himself in the 175-pound weight class, future opportunities could include a shot at the English title, potentially against the unbeaten champion Troy Jones.

The boxing community now awaits news of Rea’s next move, as he seeks to maintain momentum and secure a new fight date in the competitive light-heavyweight division.