Artur Beterbiev versus Dmitry Bivol is a highly anticipated light-heavyweight clash that sees two unbeaten fighters put it all on the line on October 12 out in Saudi Arabia.
This undisputed showdown has been a long time in the making and was delayed earlier this year due to a knee injury to Beterbiev, who is the only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio. The fight in its simplest assessment pits one of the biggest punchers in the sport against one of the best boxers and is seen by many as a genuine 50/50 match-up.
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman however has a firm opinion on the outcome. Speaking to FightHype, he was asked what he thought of Betervbiev’s 7th-round stoppage win over Callum Smith back in January.
“It was a lovely performance. He did what he had to do, he kept his knockout streak alive.”
Then he got to assessing his chances again Bivol and didn’t hesitate to predict another stoppage win.
“I don’t even want to single out Bivol. I’m telling you, anybody at 175 that gets in the ring with that boy, that man, Beterviev, they’re going to sleep.
If they don’t go to sleep, they’re getting a mercy stoppage or their corner gonna stop it or something. They’re gunna get hit harder than they ever got hit, they’re gunna get hurt more than they ever got hurt, and they’re going to lose the fight.”
Whoever comes out on top of this much-anticipated clash will have plenty of fight options, including Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez who has long been keen on a rematch with Bivol and recently admitted Beterbiev would be a huge challenge.
