BoxRec

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.

Gotta love our Turki.

Making the fights happen.

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

This fight makes your test levels increase just thinking of it

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 17:20 This fight makes your test levels increase just thinking of it

my HGH levels became atypical from just typing typically having read this.

they've arranged it for the day after my 40th too, top lads.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 17:22

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 17:20 This fight makes your test levels increase just thinking of it

my HGH levels became atypical from just typing typically having read this.

quality

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 18:12

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 17:22

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Feb 2024, 17:20 This fight makes your test levels increase just thinking of it

my HGH levels became atypical from just typing typically having read this.

quality

true story, I benched my actual house afterwards.

EDIT: I lie ALOT

I voted Bivol as someone needs to. Be wild if he outpoints him. He needs to be perfect

No idea who wins this.

Gotta feeling that Bivol will be too cute

Got to go with Bert. He’ll have some nice punches coming his way, but there’s not enough pop on them.

genuinely 50/50. Will Beterbiev age at all? Doesn't seem so. Yet Bivol barely loses a round.

This has all the makings of a great fight. Bivol has shown that he is able to perform for a whole 12 rounds at an exceptionally high level.


I think this is a pick 'em fight, could well be a split decision.

If Beterbiev manages to stop him, that will be some achievement.

I've went with Bert but i might change my mind at some point. There is a solid case for them both, very hard to split, i just think Bert is an absolute monster and it will take some performance from Bivol to get the better if him.

This is the best fight in boxing, i cant wait to see it.

ALI wrote: ↑04 Feb 2024, 11:24 I've went with Bert but i might change my mind at some point. There is a solid case for them both, very hard to split, i just think Bert is an absolute monster and it will take some performance from Bivol to get the better if him.

This is the best fight in boxing, i cant wait to see it.

Canelo is a smaller monster, and Bivol showed exactly how to deal with it.

Bert is a bigger monster, gonna be an intriguing fight

Gonna go with Bivol, he rises to the occasion.

I think the wins over Smith and Yarde for Bert although impressive showed more the lack of our guys being elite level.

We never got to see Kovalev-Stevenson.

But we will get Beterbiev-Bivol.

They’re not divas.

I do think he'd be less intimidating if he was called Bert, it's a very unintimidating name

Taansend wrote: ↑04 Feb 2024, 02:28 No idea who wins this.

Bivol too cute to get nailed.

bivol is cute but bert is quite accurate when he boxes and keeps that jab out there. when bivol was on the ropes vs canelo he had little head movement and got hit regularly with the uppercut, which bert is good at. just sparring too, but david benavidez said bivol is much easier to hit in the body than the head. a strong jab, with a consistent body attack and uppers through the middle could works wonders for bert. joe smith rocked bivol too. so bivy is hard to hit but he is hittable and bert can hit

that said, i would lean towards bivol banking just enough rounds to edge a decision. he will be ultra switched on and is prob slick enough in the end

samwbr wrote: ↑04 Feb 2024, 19:21

Taansend wrote: ↑04 Feb 2024, 02:28 No idea who wins this.

Bivol too cute to get nailed.

That's how I see it, which is why I'm swaying to him.

I think skills will pay the bills!

However nobody can predict this with too much certainty

This will be TNT Sports in UK

“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.

Bivol gonna school him in a masterclass, just like he did with Canelo, just like he did with Ramirez.