Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol | ESPN - October 12, 2024

[Ruthless-RKO]

Key Detail Agreed for Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol

Since Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) destroyed Callum Smith on January 13, the rumours regarding a proposed fight against Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) have increased, with Bob Arum recently speaking on the possibility, with him mentioning he would speak to Turki Alalshikh about getting it agreed. He also mentioned it will happen approximately three months after Ramadan, meaning this monster bout will happen in mid-July at the earliest. It appears His Excellency would like a June 1 date, which according to Dan Rafael via his Substack, is not an issue for both fighters.

Rafael has revealed via his substack that sources have told him the light heavyweight unification fight between Beterbiev and Bivol is being planned for June 1 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This fight would produce the first-ever four-belt undisputed champion at 175 pounds, assuming all four organizations agree to sanction the fight.

Dan Rafael Reveals Beterbiev vs. Bivol Latest
Rafael has revealed via his substack that sources have told him the light heavyweight unification fight between Beterbiev and Bivol is being planned for June 1 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This fight would produce the first-ever four-belt undisputed champion at 175 pounds, assuming all four organizations agree to sanction the fight.

As mentioned already and on Rafael‘s Substack, Beterbiev will be observing Ramadan from March 10 to April 9, and then he will need three months to recover and complete a full training camp. However, Rafael mentions via his sources that because June 1 is important to His Excellency – Beterbiev has agreed to fight on that date. Bivol has never had an issue with the date, and his manager, Vadim Kornilov, recently told Fight Freaks Unite that his fighter is ready to fight in April.

His Excellency Wants the Fight
His Excellency spoke openly in an interview with Matchroom Boxing about his desire to make the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight: “We need to see Artur-Bivol.” He continued: “I want to see the result (winner) of Artur and Bivol play against (Jai) Opetaia.” Ade then clarified, and the Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment confirmed: “Yes, this is what I hope to have.“

[margaret thatcher]

the whole his excellency thing is really weird

[joshj909]

the whole his excellency thing is really weird

Will probably end up with him getting his head chopped off

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gotta love our Turki.

Making the fights happen.

The 5 bouts between Queensberry and Matchroom will take place on this card.

[apollo creed]

Finally! The saudis make a great job! Maybe they could put enough money to make Tank fighting someone with a pulse like Haney, Lopez or Shakur.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Evander]

Have they signed a contract for the fight or are they talking ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

“It’s happening on June 1st. It’s a terrific fight, and the only reason it was able to happen is because the Saudis financed it,” said Bob Arum to Fight Hub TV, talking about the undisputed light heavyweight championship between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

“This is an example of a fight you couldn’t do in normal times because the fighters would want a lot of money for that fight, but how can the promoter get back the money he promises? It’s impossible.

“As big of a fight as it [Bivol vs. Beterbiev] is, it’s not a PPV fight. You’ve got a Chechnyan guy [Beterbiev] who lives in Canada and a Russian [Bivol]. So, for a real die-in-the-wood boxing fan, it’s a tremendous attraction. But for the public at large, it’s an interesting fight, period,” said Arum.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[ironbeard]

Beterbiev was VERY impressive v Smith: no nonsense, smart boxing. I have to shade the Kadyrov kiss ass at this moment . . . and fornicate the absolute monarchists.

[JxhDel.]

I remember Gvozdyk outboxing him for the majority of the rounds but Beterbiev still placing some nasty shots to the body and keeping the center. Either Bivol does a masterpiece of a shout-out, or he is in for survival

[Evander]

Going in it has a styles makes fights feel to it.
Bivol is athletic and less war torn with a style that could outbox Beterbiev.

[Evander]

It's a tough one.
I don't really know Bivol as much as I would like to at this point.
Seen a lot of him but he's at that stage of crossing over.

[Evander]

Beterbiev is almost 40

[Cent0089]

I remember Gvozdyk outboxing him for the majority of the rounds but Beterbiev still placing some nasty shots to the body and keeping the center. Either Bivol does a masterpiece of a shout-out, or he is in for survival

Gvozdyk definitely did not outboxing Beterbiev. First 3 rounds were close, then it was all Beterbiev doing damage

[Ruthless-RKO]

Top Rank President Admits Beterbiev-Bivol Could Not Have Happened ‘On This Timeline’ With Saudi Arabian Support

The president of Top Rank Todd duBoef has admitted that the intervention of Saudi Arabia is what has allowed the light heavyweight unification fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol to take place with the fighters close to their primes.

Beterbiev, who holds the WBC, WBO and IBF belts, and Bivol – the WBA champion – went face-to-face in London yesterday to formally announce their June 1 superfight in Saudi Arabia.

“When the fans call for years to see fights that never happen, now they can happen where His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] and the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] is helping facilitate these dream match-ups,” said duBoef. “Unifying the heavyweight title for the first time [in the four belt era] [firstly with Tyson Fury facing Oleksandr Usyk on May 18], seeing two of the great light heavyweights in the last decade finally go [two weeks later], contrasts of style – I love it.”

Beterbiev-Bivol has been at the top of boxing fans’ wishlists. Beterbiev is 20-0 (20 KOs) and 39-years-old, but it did not look like he had lost a step with a commanding win over Callum Smith in January.

Bivol is 22-0 (11 KOs) and outboxed Lyndon Arthur and coasted to a steady 12-round win over the Mancunian in December.

While duBoef would not say whether the dream fight would have ever happened with the influence of Saudi Arabia, he thinks it is happening now because of the wishes of the Kingdom and Turki Alalshikh.

“I don’t want to say yes or no, because I don’t know,” duBoef said, when asked whether the fight would have happened anyway. “A lot of it is expectation, it’s what their expectations are, and when there isn’t the opportunity for, ‘Hey, how can we facilitate it? We all come together, roll up our sleeves, sharpen our elbows and figure out how we can split and divide and conquer, and bring it to the place’.

“Obviously they’re helping facilitate that much easier and quicker, so we’d have to weigh with the expectations of where both guys are, but it couldn’t have happened on this timeline without their help.”

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Sulaiman Refuses To Talk Politics After U-Turn To Allow Bivol To Challenge Beterbiev For The WBC Belt

Mauricio Sulaiman has been in London this week as part of the announcement of the Saudi Arabia superfight between light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol, but the WBC president refused to talk politics.

The WBC has had a close relationship with Ukraine over the years, supporting Vitali Klitschko through his heavyweight championship career and hosting their annual convention in Kiev in 2018.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia faced international sanctions, Sulaiman declared that the WBC would not support a fight involving WBA champion Bivol.

“That is because of our position with Russia,” Sulaiman said. “[The] WBC would not accept that fight.”

Sulaiman was asked in London at Monday’s press conference what had changed for Bivol to now have the opportunity to take part in a unification fight, and challenge WBC, WBO and IBF champion Beterbiev.

“I’m not going to talk about anything other than boxing,” Sulaiman told BS. “I’m just happy and proud to be part of this fight. It’s a fight the world wants to see, a fight the world demands, a fight that both fighters deserve and the winner will be [the] undisputed world champion.”

Does this mean the WBC will be sanctioning fights in Russia now, moving forwards?

“Not at this moment,” Sulaiman added. “We are in the whole pro-peace, not only Russia and Ukraine, but the whole world, leading in a delicate time.”

Has the WBC president spoken to Bivol since he made his initial stance?

“Yes, I spoke to him in Riyadh last year, we had a very nice conversation,” replied Sulaiman.

Did they talk global affairs and about what had happened?

“Not politics,” Sulaiman added. “He’s a fighter, he’s a human being, he’s a father, we had a good conversation, his promoter Vadim [Kornilov], and I’m just happy for him and for [Artur] Beterbiev.”

So now the WBC will definitely be on the line in Saudi Arabia?

“Absolutely.”

Sulaiman admitted he was excited for the fight, which has been on the wishlist of boxing fans for several years.

“I’m very, very excited, this is a new era of boxing,” Sulaiman continued. “His Excellency Turki [Alalshikh] has come in a massive way with his innovation, innovative plans, and he’s making a big, real change for the betterment of the sport. [This is] a sensational, great fight – we’ll see which style prevails, the technique [Bivol] or the power and the aggressiveness [Beterbiev], it’s going to be a sensational night.”

Sulaiman held a promoter summit in Las Vegas in January, imploring many of boxing’s power brokers to work together. Ultimately, money is doing a better job of tightening friendships and making new ones than the overall desire to improve the sport, but Sulaiman admits money has always talked loudest in boxing, and he was pleased to see allegedly and Eddie Hearn share the Riyadh undercard with their 5x5 bill on June 1, beneath the light heavyweight main event.

“Well, like in your home, like in my house, in our business, everything, the way of making things, Don King and Bob Arum were arch-rivals, but whenever there was a fight that made sense financially, attractive, they were the best of friends,” Sulaiman said. “Money is a big factor, fighters fight for money, and to have the means to make these big fights, I believe it’s a great example to have rival promoters compete in the ring with their best talent and then move on.”

[apollo creed]

I remember Gvozdyk outboxing him for the majority of the rounds but Beterbiev still placing some nasty shots to the body and keeping the center. Either Bivol does a masterpiece of a shout-out, or he is in for survival

Gvozdyk definitely did not outboxing Beterbiev. First 3 rounds were close, then it was all Beterbiev doing damage

Since that fight , Beterbiev has aged a few good years but he is still a monster puncher. I mean Bivol is gonna be sharper and fresher.

[Evander]

No doubt Bivol will go with the outside game, put the jab out and try to wear him down through chasing among other things.

[Evander]

Beterbiev is 39

[Perkin Warbeck]

[tiny_acres]

Well this sucks but is not surprising anymore. It seems every good fight gets postponed

[Evander]

This for real ?

[apollo creed]

"A meniscus injury can take a long time to get better. A mild meniscus tear – especially for younger people – can get better in about four to twelve weeks. But for older people – and unfortunately, I'm referring here to anyone over the age of 35 – it can usually takes three to six months, but often even longer."

Beterbiev is old. Indeed he is super strong but you can't beat Father Time. Bivol would pretty much outbox Artur.