Beterbiev v Bivol: A Perfect Clash Of Styles To Crown The Light-Heavyweight King
Of all the fights Saudi Arabia has received praise for making, the undisputed light-heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dimitrii Bivol is the one fans should be most thankful for.
Beterbiev (20-0-0 20 KO) and Bivol (23-0-0 12 KO) have long established themselves as by far the best fighters of the 175-pound division and are among the finest pound-for-pound boxers on the planet.
While boxing purists have been pleading with matchmakers for years to pit these two warriors against each other, the typical obstacles proved too steep to overcome; it didn’t have broad enough appeal to generate the sort of purses both fighters would have expected for such a huge bout.
That was until Saudi Arabia got involved and Turki Alalshikh made it his mission to book the biggest and best fights possible – and they don’t come any bigger or better than Beterbiev v Bivol.
The two world champions – Beterbiev holds the WBC, WBO, and IBF belts, Bivol the WBA – came face to face on Wednesday during a press conference in London that also featured fighters from the undercard, including Chris Eubank Jr, Ben Whittaker, and British heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke ahead of their anticipated rematch.
Beterbiev v Bivol ‘The Best Fight In Boxing’
As a world-leading promoter, Eddie Hearn, who represents Bivol, is naturally prone to hyperbole, but he wasn’t overstating it when he said: “It’s going to be one that goes down in history; it’s the best fight that can be made in boxing today.”
So, what makes this fight so special? Of course, there are the high stakes of an undisputed bout, with the winner walking away with all four belts. Then there’s a clash between two unbeaten champions who have proven for years to be levels above their divisional rivals. The fact both fighters are Russian also adds another layer of intrigue.
But the biggest reason why there is so much excitement is the clash of two styles – executed at the very highest level – that have made Beterbiev and Bivol such formidable champions.
Boxing records can sometimes deceive but in the case of Beterbiev, it’s all laid out in the numbers: 20 fights, 20 wins, 20 knockouts. It’s not a padded record, either.
The Canada-based fighter, who is the only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, has defeated a succession of world-level fighters; the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Marcus Browne, Joe Smith Jr, Anthony Yarde, and Callum Smith have all challenged Beterbiev and been stopped inside the distance.
Beterbiev A Knockout Master
One of the best fighters of his generation at cutting off the ring, Beterbiev has explosive power in both hands; power he generates not only through strength but also technique and timing. Far from being a one-dimensional brawler, the 39-year-old has elite skills, too, honed from a stellar amateur career that saw him become a European and World champion.
However, for the first time in his flawless career, there are a few unknowns heading into his 21st professional fight. Beterbiev is months away from his 40th birthday – long past most fighters’ primes – and is coming off major knee surgery having sustained an injury in training that forced the original fight date of June 1 to be postponed to October 12.
For a fighter synonymous with freakish power and athleticism, can Beterbiev still produce the same levels of force that have carried him to three world titles, especially against the best fighter he will ever face?
“Yes, because I always do preparation for 100 per cent, half is not for me,” Beterbiev said when asked a similar question during Wednesday’s press conference. “I never [make a] prediction. What happens happens. I’m more focused on different details, to prepare and to do good things.
“It’s top of the meaning in boxing when you have four belts, and that’s it,” he added. “I want to win a fourth one.”
In the opposite corner, Beterbiev will face a fighter with a contrasting yet equally effective skillset. Bivol is one of the smartest, skilfull, and technically gifted boxers on the planet. If boxing was poetry, Bivol would be William Shakespeare.
Bivol Outboxed Canelo
Like Beterbiev, the 33-year-old has fought and beaten the best. The likes of Jean Pascal, Smith Jr, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, and Lyndon Arthur have all been left chasing shadows against the California-based Russian.
But it was his performance against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2022 that caught the attention of the world. Despite being the champion, Bivol was the underdog against the Mexican superstar, but he executed a perfect game plan to outbox and outthink Canelo on his way to a unanimous decision. That the fight in Las Vegas was scored 115-113 by all three judges flattered Alvarez.
Being six years younger and the sharper fighter – he fought Malik Zinad as a late replacement in June – are key factors to work in Bivol’s favor. But can he avoid Beterbiev’s bombs for 12 rounds and secure the victory? Could he even claim a knockout victory of his own? The general consensus is that if it goes to points, Bivol will win, but Beterbiev is more likely to win inside the distance.
“This is my goal when I came to pro boxing, to be the best in the light heavyweight division and this is the final fight to prove myself,” Bivol said. “What it means for me? I’ve been in boxing since I was six years old. I sacrificed so much in my life. This is the final step. Did I do everything right or not? I want to make it that I did everything right.”
It puts the fight on a knife edge and when it involves two fighters operating at the pinnacle of the sport, it promises to be an absolute blockbuster. Boxing fans, purists and casuals alike, will not want to miss this.
