The undisputed light heavyweight championship fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitri Bivol is three weeks away, on October 12, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), the IBF, WBC and WBO 175-lb champion, is still considered by many fans to be the underdog against WBA belt holder Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs).
Fans believe that the 33-year-old Bivol’s youth, hand speed and mobility give him the edge against the 39-year-old Beterbiev. Bivol will still need to change his usual combo punching approach to win this fight as he gets hit when he throws his combos.
Beterbiev has knocked out everyone he has faced and has looked excellent with recent wins over Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde, Joe Smith Jr., and Marcus Browne.
Keys to victory for Beterbiev
– Catch Bivol between combos
– Target body
– Cut the ring off well
– Fight through clinches
Bivol is expected to use more movement in this fight against the big hitting Beterbiev than he usually does because he is not equipped to stand and fight with a guy like that. The fighters Bivol feasted on did not have the kind of power that Beterbiev possessed.
Bivol’s best career win came against the 5’8″ Canelo Alvarez, but he is nowhere near the size or strength of Beterbiev. Canelo moved up from 168 two years ago to challenge Bivol for his WBA title, and he lacked the size.
The winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight could next face WBC interim champion David Benavidez. He is next in line to fight the winner. However, Canelo Alvarez said he wants to fight Bivol if he wins over Beterbiev on October 12.
Canelo lost to Bivol in 2022 by a 12-round unanimous decision, and he’s looking to avenge that loss. Fighting him for the undisputed at 175 would make it more meaningful for Canelo, as it would allow him to avenge his loss and become a two-division undisputed champion.
