Oleksandr Gvozdyk says it would be a good idea for Dmitry Bivol not to exchange punches with Artur Beterbiev on Saturday. He suggests that Bivol box and move the entire fight because Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) is too powerful and busy with his punches to get a back-and-forth type of fight.
Former WBC light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk was knocked out by Beterbiev in the tenth round five years ago in a unification clash on October 19, 2019 in Philadelphia. Gvozdyk was competitive through the seventh round, but was worn down by Beterbiev’s heavy punches from the eighth to the tenth.
In hindsight, Gvozdyk made the mistake of mixing it up with Beterbiev rather than using his legs, but that’s not the type of fighter he is. Bivol is much more equipped to move around the ring than Gvozdyk. So, it’s possible that he can stay out of reach of Beterbiev’s shots to try to win a decision.
What Bivol lacks is the power. He doesn’t have the kind of power that Gvozdyk had when he fought Beterbiev, and he’s not going to be able to hold him back either. Bivol’s jab isn’t as powerful as Gvozdyk’s either, and that can be a problem. He’ll need to use his legs more to avoid getting tripped up by Beterbiev.
“It’s a good option for fans, but not for Bivol,” said Oleksandr Gvozdyk Round Eight Boxing about it not being a wise thing for Dmitri Bivol to trade with Artur Beterbiev. “That may be the case, but I still think he’s a very disciplined fighter, and he takes really good care of himself. Even if he is close to 40 years old, he still remains in great condition, which is sufficient to fight at the very top level.
“I would say Adonis Stevenson, with a single hit, hit harder, but he never threw as much as Beterbiev. So basically he looks for an opportunity, and then he throws one big punch, which is heavy as hell. Beterbiev, on the other hand, has a very, very heavy fist,” Gvozdyk said.
Adonis Stevenson hit Gvozdyk with big left hands in their December 2018 fight, but it was only a few punches, and he didn’t respond well to being knocked back. Beterbiev nailed Gvozdyk non-stop with punches and did not let him down. Body shots from Beterbiev in the ninth and tenth rounds finished Gvozdyk.
“You might be able to take one of his punches, but he keeps throwing them, and he basically doesn’t let you breathe freely. This is what makes him dangerous. He catches you once, and he throws another and another, and then you’re done. This is the main part of Beterbiev’s style. He never lets you go.
“Piece, footwork, condition. You are supposed to be aware of every quality you can have. You have to be smart, you have to be careful, you have to have good defense, you have to be focused, and you have to have good condition. That’s the only way to beat this guy because this guy is the real deal,” Gvozdyk said of Beterbiev.
Obviously, Bivol has been working on his movement and conditioning for this fight. In a video clip of him training a week ago, he threw quick punches and pulled back.
What was noticed was how much energy Bivol expended with combo punches and three foot back steps. He looked tired, and you could tell he would fade away quickly if he fought Beterbiev like this. If this was a three-round amateur fight, Bivol could use that strategy and possibly win a decision, but not in a 12-round fight against Beterbiev.
By the middle rounds. Bivol will be exhausted and punished, and he may not see the championship rounds.
