Terence Crawford is on a mission to make history before he calls it quits. The Nebraska native has made it clear that he wants to “retire from boxing before boxing retires me.” But before that happens, he’s eyeing one last dance—against none other than Canelo Alvarez. Fans are buzzing about the potential mega-fight, and even Artur Beterbiev, the undisputed light heavyweight champion, is hyped. But here’s the twist—the Russian-Canadian boxer doesn’t even like boxing.

Artur Beterbiev has always been known for his gentle disposition and unassuming, humble character and his general dislike for boxing talk. However, the Russian-Canadian boxer recently told FightHubTV, “Even though I’m not a fan of boxing, I will still watch the (Canelo vs. Crawford) fight.” This should be enough to convey the hype of this fight.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time he’s admitted this. Back in 2024, the 40-year-old sat down for an interview with Zeeshan Ali on Smile2Jannah and doubled down on his feelings. “I’m not really [a] fan of boxing,” he said. “And I am not dreaming about fighting someone. This is like my job—I don’t like my job. I’m not [a] fan of this sport.”

It’s an odd confession from a man who dominates the ring with incredible knockout power. But for Beterbiev, boxing is just a means to an end. Naturally, the light-heavyweight champion’s comments on him not liking boxing have sparked plenty of reactions online.

Fans reel over Artur Beterbiev’s shocking non-fan admission

Artur Beterbiev’s confession rattles fans as they express their unhappiness with him. One commenter wrote, “He said he’s not a fan, but he saw every Usyk fight.” Fans were quick to call him out for keeping a close eye on Oleksandr Usyk’s fights despite claiming he’s not into boxing. The two are widely regarded as the best in the world. Usyk cemented his legacy in May 2024 when he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era by defeating Tyson Fury. Beterbiev followed suit months later, taking down Dmitry Bivol to unify the light heavyweight division. Their dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed. And neither has Beterbiev’s unique stance on the sport that made him famous.

Another commenter said, “An undisputed light-heavyweight champion saying he’s not a fan of boxing?” It’s not every day you hear an undisputed champion say they don’t love their own sport. But Beterbiev isn’t the only athlete with this mindset as another fan pointed out, “Beterbiev = Jokic.” NBA star Nikola Jokić has said similar things about basketball. The Denver Nuggets center has openly admitted he doesn’t enjoy the fame and lifestyle that comes with being an NBA player. The comparison has even made its way to social media, with Source of Boxing branding Beterbiev “the Jokić of boxing.”

One fan had an interesting question as he wrote, “If he’s not a fan, then who is he?” So, what drives Beterbiev if not love for the sport? The answer lies in his faith. “[I dream to] live in this ‘Dunia’ to earn—or how can I say that—to get Akhirah, Jannah,” he explained to Zeeshan Ali. In Islamic belief, ‘Dunia’ refers to the physical world, while ‘Akhirah’ is the afterlife. ‘Jannah’ means heaven. For Beterbiev, boxing isn’t about titles or glory—it’s just a means to a greater purpose.

Another commenter expressed his surprise and said, “Imagine not being a fan and knocking everyone out.” Beterbiev might not love boxing, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with. The 40-year-old is on the verge of defending his undisputed status once again. On February 22, he’ll face Dmitry Bivol in a rematch. Their first fight was razor-close, with many believing the decision could have gone either way. Now, they’re set to run it back for light heavyweight supremacy once again.

Meanwhile, Crawford and Canelo are gearing up for their own showdown in September—a fight that even the “non-fan” Beterbiev is excited to see. He might not watch much boxing, but when he does, you know it’s something big. Will Canelo vs. Crawford live up to the hype?