The Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol Rematch will occur a yr from now, in October 2025, through the Riyadh Season. Promoter Bob Arum revealed that undisputed mild heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) could have interim fights earlier than assembly subsequent yr in October.
Bivol misplaced a 12-round majority choice to Beterbiev on October twelfth in Riyadh. Beterbiev wore Bivol down with stress within the second half and had him harm a number of occasions. The necessity for a rematch is predicated on Bivol profitable many of the early rounds as a consequence of Beterbiev’s gradual begin.
In an interview with Dan Rafael, Prime Rank promoter Arum stated that Beterbiev and Bivol would combat different opponents earlier than assembly on the opening of the subsequent Riyadh Season.
Beterbiev May Face Eifert Subsequent
Followers don’t need that, however the Saudis are financing the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch, so the second combat will happen then. Arum didn’t reveal who Beterbiev will combat for his interim match, however his arms are tied.
The IBF ordered Beterbiev to defend in opposition to Michael Eifert, which is necessary with their group subsequent, and he should try this if he needs to maintain that belt.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn promotes Bivol, and he’ll seemingly not need to take any dangers with him dropping to somebody whereas ready for the profitable rematch with Beterbiev. Hearn might match Bivol in opposition to one of many British contenders reasonably than take a danger by placing him in with the winner of the January twenty fifth conflict between David Benavidez and David Morrell.
These guys have the facility and youth to place Bivol on the run as Beterbiev did, however they did it from the primary spherical. They wouldn’t wait till the seventh like Beterbiev did to place Bivol below hearth.
Bivol’s Potential Choices for Interim Struggle
Hearn clearly is aware of it might be a foul concept to match Bivol in opposition to Benavidez or Morrell. So, it’s seemingly that he’ll choose one in every of these fighters for his interim bout:
– Dan Azeez
– Callum Smith
– Anthony Yarde
– Wily Hutchinson
– Joshua Buatsi
Of all these names, Azeez or Callum would seemingly be the subsequent opponent for Bivol. Buatsi is just too harmful, and Hutchinson is just too powerful for Hearn to make use of both of these guys.
I’d favor Buatsi over Bivol primarily based on how the 2 fighters seemed of their final contests. Hutchinson is hard sufficient to present Bivol huge issues along with his youth, stress an unorthodox type. That’s a combat Bivol may lose or look very dangerous in.
Strain = Kryptonite for Bivol
Bivol is an effective fighter, however he can’t deal with stress and has little or no energy. Furthermore, Bivol doesn’t like getting hit to the physique, as seen within the later rounds in opposition to Beterbiev and in his combat final December in opposition to Lyndon Arthur. When Arthur and Beterbiev hit Bivol to the breadbasket, he went into retreat mode for the rest of these two fights. The white flag of give up went up for Bivol when getting hit to the physique.
