Oleksandr Gvozdyk recommends that Dmitry Bivol “run away” from Artur Beterbiev, not let him hit him, and keep off the ropes subsequent Saturday of their gentle heavyweight undisputed championship struggle in Riyadh.
The previous WBC 175-lb champion Gvozdyk was the favourite when he fought Beterbiev 5 years in the past on October 18, 2019, however was knocked out within the tenth spherical.
Gvozdyk was forward on two of the judges’ scorecards by the scores 87–83, 86-85 whereas the third had it 87-83 on the time of the stoppage within the tenth. Gvozdyk confirmed that Beterbiev could be outboxed for lengthy stretches, however it doesn’t take a lot for him to show the struggle round along with his energy.
Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) is extra cellular and a greater mixture puncher than Gvozdyk was again then, however not as highly effective or as sturdy within the chin division. For this struggle, Bivol should abandon his mixture punching as a result of that would depart him susceptible to Beterbiev’s counter-punching. He’s like a shark that preys on his meals recreation to come back to him, seeking to land.
“He’s very good, has good footwork, and has an excellent and exact jab,” mentioned Oleksandr Gvozdyk to Spherical Eight Boxing, speaking about Dmitry Bivol. “These are two completely different kinds of fighters. Beterbiev is a brawler; he’s coming and relentless. He’s very robust and in addition very good. Individuals underestimate his boxing expertise.
“Yeah, due to his type, he’s simply coming and breaking everybody down,” mentioned Gvozdyk when requested if folks underestimate Beterbiev’s technical skill. “Individuals suppose he’s solely able to doing that, however he also can field.”
Beterbiev is usually boxing, however his energy is so robust that it ends in him knocking out his opponents. He has heavy fingers, and even his jabs have energy behind them. Bivol is clearly going to be boxing and making an attempt to steer clear of Beterbiev your complete struggle. That’s not going to be straightforward.
“He was an newbie world champion the place you may’t actually make the most of your energy for everybody. There’s quite a lot of technical guys on the market. You’re restricted by three rounds,” mentioned Gvozdyk.
“Clearly, you’re getting ready to keep away from his punches. You’re not supposed to dam you close to the ropes as a result of that is the place he’s getting actually harmful,” mentioned Gvozdyk about Beterbiev. “When he begins touchdown his punches in your [guard], you continue to really feel them, and it’s not straightforward to struggle this man.”
Bivol received’t let Beterbiev catch him in opposition to the ropes, however that doesn’t imply he received’t get hit exhausting within the middle of the ring. Beterbiev doesn’t have to lure his opponents for him to land exhausting pictures. Lots of his knockouts come within the middle of the ring.
“He is aware of easy methods to struggle these sorts of men,” Gvozdyk mentioned about Beterbiev realizing easy methods to cope with cellular fighters that use footwork. So, I feel it’s going to be a very exhausting process for Bivol.
“It’s exhausting [to prevent Beterbiev from trapping you against the ropes]. Whenever you’re combating this type of man, you’re operating your engine at excessive revs on a regular basis, which actually burns you out. Moreover the technical and tactical half, you must care for your conditioning half very effectively to have the ability to struggle Beterbiev,” mentioned Gvozdyk.
It’s going to be troublesome for Bivol to maneuver your complete struggle to elude Beterbiev as a result of he’s going to catch him with brief punches. Even when Bivol pivots away to flee, he’ll get hit with pictures. Not like different energy punchers, Beterbiev doesn’t load up on his pictures. He throws brief, high-pack pictures that do quite a lot of injury.
“Don’t let him punch you and work your [backside] exhausting,” mentioned Gvozdyk on what recommendation he has for Bivol to defeat Beterbiev. “Run away as a result of it’s not a good suggestion to remain in opposition to the ropes in opposition to him,” mentioned Gvozdyk.
It’ll require Bivol to emphasise throwing single punches and jabs to forestall Beterbiev from hitting him always along with his punches. Motion is necessary for Bivol, however it received’t win him the struggle with out him standing and combating at occasions.
The judges aren’t going to financial institution Bivol rounds mechanically primarily based on three minutes of motion and nil scoring punches in opposition to Beterbiev. That works for some fighters once they’re the A-side, combating of their hometowns, however Saturday’s contest in Riyadh is on impartial floor for each.
