Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will end a nine-month layoff to feature prominently on the Ring IV card come November 22, when he faces Alabama puncher Deon Nicholson in a matchup billed as the 40-year-old's road to redemption.

The Russian-born Canadian voiced his frustration last month at failing to settle terms for an immediate trilogy bout with now-unified titleholder Dmitry Bivol, having split their series one apiece after 24 thrilling rounds in the Saudi capital from October 2024 to February this year.

Bivol relinquished his WBC title, rather than negotiate terms for a purse bid with interim champion David Benavidez - since been elevated - while being ordered to box mandatory challenger Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) for the IBF strap. His next move remains unclear.

Benavidez, who watched the Bivol-Beterbiev rematch ringside in Riyadh, will headline Ring IV against two-time former title challenger Anthony Yarde in a maiden title defence at 175-pounds. After failed Benavidez negotiations, Callum Smith-David Morrell has been ordered for the former's newly-won WBO interim title and is also mooted to feature on the bill.

Said to have received Turki Alalshikh's blessing for a fight in their native Russia, as reported by The Ring's Mike Coppinger, Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) will now stay-busy against another American opponent in November. He's 8-0 with 8-0 KOs in matchups with stateside opposition but turns 41 in January as questions over longevity at an elite level persist.

Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs) is six years his junior and has reeled off eight consecutive wins, including five inside the distance, since then-unbeaten Nigerian contender Efetobor Apochi dropped and stopped him three rounds into their scheduled 12-round contest in April 2021.

The nine-year pro pitched a ten-round points win over previously-unbeaten Sergio Jimenez this time last year and is most recently coming off a fourth-round finish of Devonte Williams on June 27, where he featured on the Deontay Wilder-Tyrell Herndon undercard.