David Benavidez is choosing WBA mild heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol to be victorious towards Artur Beterbiev subsequent Saturday evening in Riyadh. Benavidez provides Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) a “slight edge” of their undisputed mild heavyweight championship on October twelfth in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Benavidez is the WBC obligatory and interim champion and can doubtlessly be getting a shot at that title subsequent yr. His possibilities of profitable are arguably higher towards Bivol than Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), who may be too highly effective for the amount puncher.
Beterbiev, 39, is the older fighter than the 33-year-old Bivol, and he comes into the match with doubts about his proper knee situation. He had surgical procedure in Could 2024 for a ruptured meniscus, and he has solely had 4 months to recuperate from the surgical procedure.
“I feel Bivol has a slight edge, however I don’t know. It’s a 50-50 combat. It”s going to be a terrific combat, however I feel Bivol may take off with a victory,” stated David Benavidez to Professional Boxing Followers, choosing Dmitry Bivol over Artur Beterbiev subsequent Saturday evening.
“That combat, Bivol and Beterbiev, has obtained the whole lot,” stated broadcaster Adam Smith. “Do I lean barely in direction of one? Possibly Bivol, however Beterbiev boxed so nicely towards Callum Smith that he can flip it on. He’s not simply an aggressive powerhouse; he can field superbly as nicely.
“Bivol is an excellent technician. He’s not obtained the facility of Beterbiev, however he has obtained the talents. It’s going to be so tight. It’s an exquisite combat.”
“Most likely Beterbiev as a result of he’s a really intelligent fighter, and he can bang, however I wouldn’t be stunned if Bivol gained,” stated Ben Whittaker.
“I’ve at all times fancied Bivol. It’s not a lot that he beat Callum Smith. It’s how he did it. It’s what he was doing. It’s what Beterbiev was doing that I discovered spectacular,” stated coach Dave Coldwell.
“He wasn’t exerting himself in any respect. He simply managed the whole lot. He managed each little element, and he managed the tempo rather well, which, as you’re getting older, you want to have the ability to do. That’s why I’m choosing Beterbiev as a result of, at 39, he isn’t exhibiting something.
“No hesitation. He isn’t exhibiting something the place I have a look at him and suppose, ‘He’s deteriorating.’ So, I feel I’m going to go along with Beterbiev on that one,” stated Coldwell.
The way in which that Betebiev regarded so relaxed towards Callum Smith confirmed that he doesn’t waste power or stress out when coping with an influence puncher. Bivol is a special fighter than Smith, however he’ll be making an attempt to harm Beterbiev in the identical means.
If Beterbiev can keep relaxed below hearth towards Bivol, as he did towards Smith, he’s obtained an excellent probability of profitable.
