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

[Ruthless-RKO]

Round-by-round starts here






Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol set for June 1 in Saudi Arabia

Undefeated light heavyweights Artur Beterbiev 20-0 (20) and Dmitry Bivol 22-0 (11) will meet in four-belt unification clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1.

The bout presents an intriguing contrast of styles. Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev, 39, has arguably the heaviest hands in all of boxing. The 33-year-old Bivol – who was born in Kyrgyzstan, holds Russian citizenship and boxes out of Indio, California – is a master boxer adept at control range and dictating exchanges.

Both fighters will enter the ring with hardware around their waists. Beterbiev won the vacant IBF belt with a 12th round knockout of Enrico Koelling in November 2017 before lifting the WBC strap from then-undefeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk via 10th round knockout two years later. He completed the trifecta with a second round knockout of Joe Smith Jr to claim the WBO bauble in June 2022.

Bivol is no slouch either. After winning the WBA interim title against Felix Valera on point in May 2016, he was upgraded to WBA ‘regular’ titleholder the following year and eventually earned full championship status for the Panama-based sanctioning body.

Two years ago Bivol proved his class by defeating reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) by unanimous decision. All three judges awarded him the fight seven round to five, which seemed exceedingly generous to the 33-year-old Mexican superstar.

Beterbiev vs Bivol is one of the most anticipated fights in the boxing. The winner of the bout will also be crowned The Ring magazine world champion at 175-pounds. Beterbiev is ranked number one by the esteemed publication while Bivol is number two.

Bivol’s strength and conditioning coach Taylor Ramsdell says that despite his boxer’s obvious lack of punching power, he is surprisingly strong.

“Bivol is a strong fighter, and he stays strong from start to finish,” Ramsdell told ProBox TV.

“Bivol’s skill level is amazing and he’s intelligent with his boxing. Always in the moment, while also seeing several steps ahead. He’s great at what he does and it shows in all of his fights.”

“Both these fighters are well-rounded. There’s a lot to both of them. We’ve had the answers to every opponent Bivol has faced, and we will for this one too

“We’ve been working towards the goal of becoming undisputed. Winning this fight will make it happen. I believe Bivol’s hand will be raised in victory and that goal will be achieved.”

The Ring ranks Beterbiev the number five boxer in the world pound-for-pound. Bivol sits at number six by the same publication. The winner will likely be elevated in the rankings.

Unification fights have thankfully come back into vogue in recent years. Alvarez holds all four belts in the 168-pound weight class, as does Naoya Inoue at bantamweight. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will clash for all the gold in Saudi Arabia on May 18.

[DrDuke]

It's a one of the most intriguing matchups today and it's an elite level fight. I can't really pick a winner. There're two different styles, who is better at his own gotta win.

I underrated both of them at their first moments of championship, but they proved me and many others wrong. These two fellas proved, that you don't need to change your style to be a high-level pro, you just should utilize your own game properly.

Bivol is a pure boxer with good movement and variable arsenal. He's fast and has an excellent jab to settle combinations. He can lack a one punch KO power, but he brings a lot of tricks instead. Also, he can take a punch.

Beterbiev is extremely skilled and polished too, but obviously he is oriented more to delivering his power, which is absolutely devastating. He's a candidate for being #1 puncher p4p today. Even if Bivol can take a punch, it's still a question, if he can take a shot of such monster like Beterbiev, while Beterbiev knows how to deliver well enough.

So, I can't really tell. I can see Bivol outboxing Beterbiev behind the jab and combinations with constant movement and solid workrate, but Beterbiev can remain composed and reserved in order to find openings for his bombs, so I can also see Beterbiev catching Bivol at some point. Probably I lean more towards Beterbiev by KO and I vote for it right now, but I can be wrong easily. Nothing surprises me here.

I'm super hyped for this fight, but will it actually happen? Different promotions, not the most marketable bout for the US audience, impossible to make it in Russia now. I'd be happy, if Bivol and Beterbiev say fookk off to the promotions, sanctioning bodies and other brainfookkers, and make a huge fight on the stadium in Moscow for the pride and for the true fans.

[apollo creed]

I have Bivol by UD.

I think Bivol would outbox big time AB.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[golden_labrador]

imagine they hold it in Moscow and deliberately don't stream it to the west

[Bandog]

To me Bivol is a better boxer, but also Beterbiev is a better boxer than most give him credit for. Great fight. Bivol by decision, but wouldn't be shocked by AB getting a KO either.

The earliest this fight will happen is more than a year away. AB will be 38 or 39?

[apollo creed]

Its a 50-50 fight but you can't beat father time. Bivol is young and very fast, quick footwork, great at keeping the distance, etc.

If Canelo doesn't want the rematch with Bivol then this mega-fight should happen but It depends on Arum.

My guess is that TR are expecting&wishing that Canelo to proceed for the Bivol rematch and win it somehow, then try to get Canelo on ESPN for 1 deal fight vs Beterbiev.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Its a 50-50 fight but you can't beat father time. Bivol is young and very fast, quick footwork, great at keeping the distance, etc.

If Canelo doesn't want the rematch with Bivol then this mega-fight should happen but It depends on Arum.

My guess is that TR are expecting&wishing that Canelo to proceed for the Bivol rematch and win it somehow, then try to get Canelo on ESPN for 1 deal fight vs Beterbiev.

Arum said he would have the fight on ESPN..

Hearn said that's ok..

[Enlightened-One]

Dmitry Bivol outpoints a game, but past-his-prime, Artur Beterbiev.

And for the record, I held this opinion prior to Bivol's bout against Canelo.

[Syntax Error]

Bivol on points.

Titanic fight that has to happen and it will not be a walk in the park, but I think Bivol's style is what will be the difference.

[apollo creed]

Dmitry Bivol outpoints a game, but past-his-prime, Artur Beterbiev.

And for the record, I held this opinion prior to Bivol's bout against Canelo.

What? Are you sure?

My interpretation of them, is that Bivol has received an awful lot of praise for doing considerably less than Canelo has. He's a borderline hype-job.

No way that a "borderline hype-job" to beat a game AB.

[apollo creed]

Its a 50-50 fight but you can't beat father time. Bivol is young and very fast, quick footwork, great at keeping the distance, etc.

If Canelo doesn't want the rematch with Bivol then this mega-fight should happen but It depends on Arum.

My guess is that TR are expecting&wishing that Canelo to proceed for the Bivol rematch and win it somehow, then try to get Canelo on ESPN for 1 deal fight vs Beterbiev.

Arum said he would have the fight on ESPN..

Hearn said that's ok..

He says a lot but actions speak much louder than words.

[Bandog]

Dmitry Bivol outpoints a game, but past-his-prime, Artur Beterbiev.

And for the record, I held this opinion prior to Bivol's bout against Canelo.

For the record, I find your prediction odd, but funny, since you called Bivol a hypejob before he dominated Canelo,

Your opinion of Beterbiev then was even less than a hype job?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Its a 50-50 fight but you can't beat father time. Bivol is young and very fast, quick footwork, great at keeping the distance, etc.

If Canelo doesn't want the rematch with Bivol then this mega-fight should happen but It depends on Arum.

My guess is that TR are expecting&wishing that Canelo to proceed for the Bivol rematch and win it somehow, then try to get Canelo on ESPN for 1 deal fight vs Beterbiev.

Arum said he would have the fight on ESPN..

Hearn said that's ok..

He says a lot but actions speak much louder than words.

Sorry. He said he would ONLY do the fight on ESPN.

[apollo creed]

Arum said he would have the fight on ESPN..

Hearn said that's ok..

He says a lot but actions speak much louder than words.

Sorry. He said he would ONLY do the fight on ESPN.

If Bivol would win the rematch with Canelo, then he'd be the guy who calls the shots. Actually Bivol is in a great position atm bc he shut out Canelo big f. time!

[apollo creed]

Dmitry Bivol outpoints a game, but past-his-prime, Artur Beterbiev.

And for the record, I held this opinion prior to Bivol's bout against Canelo.

For the record, I find your prediction odd, but funny, since you called Bivol a hypejob before he dominated Canelo,

Your opinion of Beterbiev then was even less than a hype job?

What did he said about AB ? old hype job?

[Bandog]

Dmitry Bivol outpoints a game, but past-his-prime, Artur Beterbiev.

And for the record, I held this opinion prior to Bivol's bout against Canelo.

For the record, I find your prediction odd, but funny, since you called Bivol a hypejob before he dominated Canelo,

Your opinion of Beterbiev then was even less than a hype job?

What did he said about AB ? old hype job?

Only the enlightened one can answer that. He normally goes into hiding for a day or two though after getting embarrassed. He gets mad like Trump. Dan people using his own words against him.

[Enlightened-One]

My interpretation of them, is that Bivol has received an awful lot of praise for doing considerably less than Canelo has. He's a borderline hype-job.

No way that a "borderline hype-job" to beat a game AB.

I stand by what I originally said.

I actively refrain from granting an unproven fighter an honorary rite of passage to being regarded as the best in their division, or even greatness, until I’ve seen them beat the best in their own weight class.

I also refrain from awarding kudos to certain unproven fighters for theoretical “victories” (based solely on opinions/expectation), whilst also choosing to criticise other fighters for their real-world wins.

I personally regard any fighter that receives a lot of praise, without possessing a proven track-record of beating elite level opposition, as being a hype job.

And the only reason why the “hype job” moniker is regarded as being a derogatory phrase, is because most of them are rarely anywhere near as good as fight fans proclaim them to be.

Anyway, prior to the Canelo bout, the best light heavyweight opponent that Dmitry Bivol had faced within the three years prior was the unproven UK domestic level Craig Richards, with the Brit holding the Russian to a split decision.

And like I previouslysaid, word-for-word, “Bivol [had] received an awful lot of praise for doing considerably less than Canelo has.” This was almost certainly 100% accurate!!!

That said, I was clearly aware of Dmitry Bivol’s talent, because this is what I wrote in February:

Dmitry Bivol is a talented guy with exquisite and often underappreciated skills.

He might even be the best 175lb-er competing today. And I feel he poses a bigger challenge for Canelo to overcome than Beterbiev is capable of doing....

Even though I feel that Dmitry Bivol is probably Canelo’s toughest (or at least, most awkward) challenge from those fighters competing from 160lbs to 175lbs...

[Enlightened-One]

I’ve just checked the official Top Rank website and it seems they don’t have any credible 175lb-ers within their own stable to face Artur Beterbiev.

But Bob Arum said that he wouldn’t allow the Russian to compete on DAZN.

So who will be Artur Beterbiev’s next opponent, assuming the Dmitry Bivol bout cannot be made?

Another "Adam Deines" calibre guy maybe?

[Cent0089]

I’ve just checked the official Top Rank website and it seems they don’t have any credible 175lb-ers within their own stable to face Artur Beterbiev.

But Bob Arum said that he wouldn’t allow the Russian to compete on DAZN.

So who will be Artur Beterbiev’s next opponent, assuming the Dmitry Bivol bout cannot be made?

Another "Adam Deines" calibre guy maybe?

If Bivol fight wont happen next, i will be ok with Anthony Yarde

[apollo creed]

For the record, I find your prediction odd, but funny, since you called Bivol a hypejob before he dominated Canelo,

Your opinion of Beterbiev then was even less than a hype job?

What did he said about AB ? old hype job?

Only the enlightened one can answer that. He normally goes into hiding for a day or two though after getting embarrassed. He gets mad like Trump. Dan people using his own words against him.

Yeah thats so true. Usually he gets so butthurted and sored that he's just idle on stalking mode on this forum but now he's rattled and he's in damage control mode. His narcissistic personality disorder took the control over him and he started to post this usually ocd stuff.

[emallini]

This bout will be irrelevant after Yarde dismantles Beterbiev.

[adislav123]

This bout will be irrelevant after Yarde dismantles Beterbiev.

good one.

[brilo33]

a real tough fight to call, if this is there next fights say september i leaning towards beterbiev now, and ive always gone bivol talking like 5 years this fight in the making, i think beterbiev did a great job on joe smith his power is something else also he was hard to hit , but when joe was rocking he couldnt shift beterbiev off him, iam beterbiev ko if the fight goes in sep or nov as time is ticking for the 37 year old

[Bandog]

Someone needs to get power of attorney, and put uncle Bob in a home.