Andre Ward thinks Dmitry Bivol is making a mistake by overtly revealing that Artur Beterbiev’s punches had been affecting him, even when he blocked them on his gloves.
The previous two-division world champion Ward feels that Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) needs to be tight-lipped about his weaknesses as a result of potential of a rematch with undisputed mild heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) in 2025.
Bivol misplaced a 12-round majority choice to Beterbiev final Saturday night time on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh. It was an in depth combat, however Beterbiev pulled it out within the second half of the competition together with his strain and power-punching.
Some followers felt that Bivol deserved the win, saying he outboxed Beterbiev and did a superb job of blocking his punches or making him miss. Bivol was blocking photographs, however the punches had been nonetheless doing harm to his face.
Bivol Slowed Down
Within the second half, Bivol misplaced vitality and wasn’t exhibiting a lot offense. It’s unclear what prompted that. It might have been certainly one of these elements:
– Physique punching
– Quick tempo
– Strain
– Energy
“It is best to by no means concede this overtly when there’s potential for a rematch. Hold that to your self! An excessive amount of speaking,” stated Andre Ward on X, reacting to Dmitry Bivol revealing that Artur Beterbiev’s punches had been coming via his gloves when he lined up.
It won’t matter whether or not Bivol revealed what Beterbiev’s punches had been doing to him, as a result of it’s there to be seen within the video of the combat. Bivol might say nothing, and Beterbiev and his staff will spot the impacts his punches had been having on him. It didn’t matter that Bivol was blocking many on his gloves. They had been nonetheless doing harm. The physique punching from Beterbiev appeared to have an actual impact on Bivol, sporting him down.
“He has very sturdy punches. [I felt] his proper hand even via my left. My thumb is swollen as a result of I used to be holding it on my head, and he was beating on my hand. I felt like my hand got here inside my head from the ability,” stated Bivol to BoxNation, speaking about Beterbiev.
“For the rematch, I feel Bivol goes to have a look at the primary combat and say, ‘I might be extra aggressive,’ as a result of when he was aggressive, he was carrying the day,” stated coach Stephen Edwards to MillCity Boxing about what Bivol might be considering going into the rematch with Beterbiev.
Bivol should attempt to be extra aggressive within the rematch as a result of he’s not going to be given a choice if he’s simply jabbing Beterbiev and making an attempt to maintain away. He had success within the seventh spherical when he flurried on Beterbiev, however he received caught with a shot.
That modified the combat as a result of Bivol seemed weakened and cautious to let his fingers go once more. However he’s going to need to strive as a result of he appeared to have Beterbiev near being stopped.
“The issue is, when you get too aggressive, you run into one thing with that man [Beterbiev] as a result of he’s such a tough puncher,” stated Edwards. “So, you’ll be able to’t get too grasping. I feel the seventh spherical was a microcosm of the combat. Bivol was having an actual good spherical, he was getting off, and he received a little bit too grasping. Beterbiev hit him with one thing and dominated the remainder of the spherical.
“I assumed Beterbiev received the seventh spherical, however I might see that spherical was some extent of controversy. I feel Bivol might be extra aggressive, however I feel that’s what Beterbiev desires.
“I wouldn’t be stunned if Beterbiev stops him within the rematch as a result of the extra you open up, the extra possibilities you give him to hit you with one thing you don’t see,” stated Edwards.
Test Bivol’s left hand 👀😳#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason
📸 @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/ZasIMdqaEl
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 13, 2024
