Dmitry Bivol says he watched unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev’s last fight against Callum Smith on January 13, and notes that he is still strong and fighting at a high level ahead of their undisputed 175lb championship fight next month on October 12 in Riyadh.
Bivol’s long-awaited moment
The WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) says he has been focusing on becoming the undisputed champion in the weight class for a long time, and now the moment is finally here. Bivol (33) will have to show he can do it or give up against IBF, WBC and WBO champion Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) if he becomes his 21st knockout victim.
Many fans are rooting for Bivol to win, believing he has the youth and skills to defeat the 39-year-old Beterbiev. Bivol has the technical ability to win, but it will be difficult to avoid the firefights that Beterbiev will force on him for the 12 rounds.
While Bivol looked good against the diminutive 5’8″ Canelo Alvarez and knocked out Malik Zinad, it will be much more difficult for him to do the same thing against Beterbiev.
“These are two different people, two absolutely different fighters,” Dmitry Bivol told the Queensberry Boxing channel when asked how Artur Beterbiev compared to Canelo Alvarez. “Artur is bigger and has a stronger punch and different technique.”
Adapt to Beterbiev’s style
The way Bivol fought Canelo in their contest on May 7, 2022 will not work against Beterbiev as he often fought with his back against the ropes during the fight. Bivol was firing up and blocking the punches that Canelo was throwing, who was throwing wing hooks that he could see coming. Beterbiev will have a much harder time doing this because he will be throwing combinations and not hitting Bivol between his punches.
“You went to the finish line in your career in this weight class,” Bivol said of what it would mean to him to be undisputed champion at 175. “He is a great fighter, a good puncher and has good technique,” said Bivol. about Beterbiev.”
If Bivol wins, there is much more for him to do in his career. There will be a rematch with Beterbiev and possibly a second fight with Canelo if he chooses to move up to 175 if he is offered enough money. There would also be fights against David Benavidez and David Morrell, both of whom are now campaigning at 175.
Bivol will have an almost endless number of fights at his disposal if he prevails against Beterbiev. Of course, if Bivol loses to Beterbiev on October 12, he will have to figure out where to go. Does he take the rematch and risk a second loss or does he move on to some of the other interesting fights available at light heavyweight?
“Every fight I have, I see it as the hardest challenge for me,” said Bivol. “It was a good performance. He showed that he still has the power, pressure and confidence,” Bivol said when asked about Beterbiev’s last fight against Callum Smith on January 13, which he won by 7th round TKO at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Canada. .
Beterbiev looked outstanding, destroying Callum Smith in seven rounds, knocking out a fighter who has never been stopped in his career. Canelo beat Smith by a wide 12-round unanimous decision on December 19, 2020, but he has never hurt himself in the fight. Beterbiev destroyed Smith and took some big shots while doing it.
“We’ll see in the ring how it will be,” Bivol said, describing how he views Beterbiev’s power. “It’s not personal. He has what I want (IBF, WBC, and WBO 175-lb titles) and what I need. I can say I believe in my skills. I will do everything to be undisputed, and I am capable of doing it.
