Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Latest Boxing News & Rumors Today / Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev battle for supremacy in light heavyweight division

Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev battle for supremacy in light heavyweight division

Publish Date: 10/08/2024
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

The B Boys have a lot in common.

Both are in their 30s, originally from Russia, undefeated and world champions.

They’ve been titleholders for seven years.

Each is complimentary of the other’s boxing ability.

“Dmitry Bivol is an incredible fighter and a master technician,” said Beterbiev to boxing247.com two weeks ago.”

“He’s (Beterbiev) a great fighter, a good puncher, and has good technique,” Bivol said about Beterbiev.

The chatter began several years ago as both dominated opponents.

Who would win if they ever fought?

That day will be here on October 12th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as they fight for all the marbles in the light heavyweight division.

It’s slick versus slugger. Bivol, a slight favorite, is a fluid fighter – who finds his range and boxes intelligently. Beterbiev is power, with 20 knockouts in 20 wins. He pursues his opponent like a paid assassin.

Bivol boxed the ears of Canelo Álvarez in 2022. Beterbiev roughed up Callum Smith in his last outing, winning inside eight rounds. The power man can box as well.

Hall of Famer Roy Jones gives the edge to Bivol.

“Beterbiev gives a good punch, but I don’t know if he takes a good punch,” said Jones to DAZN. “He’s been down 2 or 3 times in only 17 fights. He has 20 now, but if you’ve been down 3 times in 20 fights, there’s a problem somewhere. I think Bivol has the advantage, and I will go Bivol.”

Interesting. Beterbiev has been down twice in his career, the last time five years ago against Callum Johnson. He recovered quickly, got up, and, as he has done in all his fights, knocked his opponent out.

Terence Crawford sees the fight a little differently than Jones.

“If I had to pick one, I’d pick Bivol – because of his boxing skills,” Crawford told pro-boxingfans.com.

Heavyweight Joseph Parker agrees with Crawford.

“I favor Bivol as well,” Parker said. “I feel like he’s more precise with his punches and [has] good footwork.”

Respected trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards disagrees with Crawford.

“If you ask me who I favor,” said Edwards.”I favor Beterbiev to defeat Bivol. I know most of the time, the boxer wins this fight, but I like Beterbiev. There are some things that I’ve seen, I just don’t think he can overcome that. Bivol, you have to have a special level of durability to overcome what’s going on with Beterbiev.”

Injuries and age could be an issue for Beterbiev. Last June he suffered a torn meniscus – delaying his fight against Bivol. He also appeared sluggish at times against Anthony Yarde. Then again, his opponent could have had something to do with it.

Bivol ended a dubious streak of not winning a fight by a knockout in his last bout.

He’s been hurt late in fights – something he won’t want to encounter against Beterbiev. He’ll have to maintain control and avoid Beterbiev’s incoming shots. I see him doing that for most of the fight.

The later rounds could tell the story of who ultimately wins.

Read Also
Artur Beterbiev wins skillful 12-rounder over Dmitry Bivol
Artur Beterbiev is the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world. His ...
Beterbiev vs. Bivol: A Long Time Coming
This Saturday, boxing fans finally get the payoff of seeing the two ...
Bet365 Promo
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Michael Nunn and Iran Barkley Discuss Their Bout, Bob Arum, and the Four Kings
Mountains to Climb, Pebbles in Your Shoe “I always say that was ...
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
Jack Moriarty and 1880’s Canadian Boxing
Sports journalist, Ed Fitkin, worked in print journalism at Toronto’s Daily Globe would find ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Crawford vs. Spence: The battle for welterweight supremacy
Once in a while, boxing fans are gifted with a super-fight, not ...
The 1888 Colored Heavyweight Champion: George Godfrey
By January 1888, George Godfrey had been the Colored heavyweight Champion nearly ...
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
+ 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to FanDuel
Get Bonus
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $5 Get $200 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
T&Cs apply, 21+
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It's Never Ordinary at bet365. That's why if you sign up now you'll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code:
Go to Bet365
Go to Bet365
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now