Unified three-belt mild heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev goes to be coming for WBA champion Dmitry Bivol’s belt on Saturday night time of their undisputed championship contest on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh. The battle shall be proven stay on DAZN PPV, together with the undercard.
This battle is meant to be a 50-50 one, however followers must be able to see a full-on rout with Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) being too highly effective and rugged for the finesse fighter Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs).
Followers hope to see a struggle contained in the ring on Saturday, however they haven’t seen Bivol battle. He’s not that kind of fighter. He’s extra of a boxer, and he doesn’t fancy entering into firefights on account of his historical past of being damage.
“That is the very best matchup. It pits probably the most trendy fighter on the planet in my thoughts. That’s Dmitry Bivol in opposition to probably the most damaging, Artur Beterbiev,” mentioned commentator Mark Kriegel to High Rank Boxing.
I don’t suppose that is the very best matchup within the mild heavyweight division, however it’s probably the greatest. There are extra entertaining guys within the 175-lb division that might give Artur extra of a fan-friendly battle.
– David Benavidez
– Anthony Yarde: *rematch
– David Morrell
– Joshua Buatsi
– Wily Hutchinson
“Artur Beterbiev brings three belts to the desk, however Dmitry Bivol brings that one belt. It’s so precious as a result of he beat Canelo Alvarez [in 2022]. Which means that you’re an elite competitor,” mentioned commentator Bernard Osuna. “That is such a compelling battle. You’ll be able to see it going both approach. This man is a damaging power and as soon as he will get going, the freight practice simply runs you over,” mentioned Osuna about Beterbiev.
I don’t see this as a battle that may go both approach, however I’ve watched Beterbierv and Bivol their whole careers. This can be a catch and mouse kind of battle, which could possibly be boring if Dmitry chooses to maneuver all night time like he did in opposition to Lyndon Arthur and Canelo Alvarez.
“This can be a fan-friendly battle. I believe it is a nice battle for boxing as a result of all of the belts are on the road, however just one man can win. That man goes to need to be at his absolute best that he’s ever been in his whole profession,” mentioned analyst Tim Bradley. “Is that this probably the greatest fights to be made in boxing? Completely, sure, as a result of we don’t know who’s going to win the battle.
“It’s a unification battle. It’s a really huge motivation for me,” mentioned Artur Beterbiev. “In fact, I’m excited. It’s my aim to be a unified world champion. I attempt to be prepared for each battle, and I wish to show one thing.”
Beterbiev might have crushed higher fighters than Bivol throughout his professional profession, and been robbed within the 2012 London Olympics after dominating Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine. Artur’s wins over Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith had been in opposition to fighters which might be arguably higher professional skills than Bivol. They simply haven’t been matched like he has.
“What’s the minimal? The utmost is to gather all belts. Okay, that is my most,” mentioned Bivol. “That is boxing, and it’s a must to be prepared for entire conditions.”
It doesn’t get any higher than this for Bivol as a result of no matter comes after this gained’t be as huge. The 2-time Olympian Beterbiev has been a power of nature since he turned professional, and it could say rather a lot about Bivol if he can change into the man that offers him his first profession defeat. On the flip facet, it’s not the tip of the world for Bivol if he loses. He’s younger sufficient at 33 to return again and nonetheless seize extra belts.
Beterbiev will possible vacate the 4 titles and transfer as much as cruiserweight if he’s victorious on Saturday, leaving the fragmented belts up for grabs. So long as a knockout loss to Beterbiev doesn’t damage Bivol’s punch resistance, he ought to have the ability to come again and seize one of many belts after he leaves the division.
