Promoter Bob Arum believes that IBF/WBC/WBO gentle heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will put on down and cease WBA champ Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) to register his twenty first consecutive knockout victory on Saturday evening of their 175-lb undisputed championship on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Arum charges Bivol because the #2 fighter within the gentle heavyweight division, however he thinks that as a result of Beterbiev is such a very good puncher, he’s going to put on him down and knock him out.
That received’t make Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, comfortable as a result of he’s already speaking up the thought of matching him towards Canelo Alvarez. If Bivol loses, Hearn might want to downsize his plans for him and deal with a lesser combat to carry him again.
Followers are evenly cut up on who they really feel will win the Beterbiev vs. Bivol combat, as many are confused on who to select. The media and ex-fighters appear to favor Bivol and suppose he’ll have the ability to do to Beterbiev what he did towards Canelo Alvarez.
That’s a a lot smaller fighter than Beterbiev, who ran out of fuel after three rounds and fought together with his again towards the ropes of their combat in 2022. Beterbiev received’t combat together with his again towards the ropes like Canelo did towards Bivol, and he’s not going to be in a state of exhaustion after three rounds just like the Mexican fighter was. That was a gimme for Bivol. Canelo was 33 on the time, however he was an outdated 33, wanting extra like a fighter in his early 40s. It’s not shocking that he’s taken on comfortable opposition ever since.
“Bivol is an excellent fighter and possibly subsequent to Beterbiev, the following greatest gentle heavyweight. I like Beterbiev as a result of he’s such an amazing puncher and destroyer and he is aware of the right way to field as nicely. So, I like his possibilities within the combat, however it’s a very shut even-money combat,” mentioned Bob Arum to BoxNation, previewing the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 175-lb championship for subsequent Saturday.
Bivol might be uncovered on this combat and proven to be simply one other fighter who was a product of matchmaking. Up till now, Bivol’s greatest wins are towards these fighters:
– Canelo Alvarez
– Gilberto Ramirez
– Joe Smith Jr: Damage in that combat
– Lyndon Arthur: Ditto
– Sullivan Barrera
– Craig Richards: Razor shut determination
– Isaac Chilemba
“It’s probably the greatest as a result of there are such viewpoints on both facet, and I believe the percentages mirror how shut that combat is. Once you’re coping with two fighters of the caliber of Beterbiev and Bivol, it makes for an excellent evening for boxing,” mentioned Arum.
It’s going to be a wonderful combat, and hopefully, Bivol doesn’t select to make it boring by shifting for 12 rounds. We all know that Beterbiev will make it thrilling as a result of he all the time entertains, however Bivol is the query mark right here. He’s an in-and-out runner who fights scared when coping with stress.
“Definitely the most effective I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen all of them just about,” mentioned Arum when requested if a win for Beterbiev would cement him as the most effective gentle heavyweight that we’ve ever seen within the sport. “I believe Beterbiev is one thing tremendous particular within the gentle heavyweight division, however once more, October twelfth shouldn’t be going to be the tip of his profession. He’s in all probability going to combat for one more couple of years.
“He stopped everybody else. Will he cease Bivol? That’s what we’ll need to see. That’s why they do the fights, however Beterbiev wears you down, and he takes you out. He’s executed it [20] straight occasions, and I don’t see why this [21st] time wouldn’t occur on October twelfth,” mentioned Arum.
