Although many people consider Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev to be the best fighters in their division, James Toney thinks he knows of a man who would beat both.
Bivol and Beterbiev fight this Saturday out in Saudi Arabia for undisputed light-heavyweight honours. Whoever comes out on top will also have a big claim to being right up the top of the pound-for-pound rankings given what they have achieved in the sport.
Unified champion Beterbiev is a knockout machine who has stopped all 20 of the men he has faced so far inside the distance, making him the only current world titleholder with a 100% knockout ratio.
Bivol is also unbeaten in all contests but has gone about his work differently, winning the majority of his fights on points by using his slick skills, sharp punching combinations and great judge of defence. His standout victory to date came over Canelo Alvarez back in 2022.
Speaking to Boxing News, former multi-weight world champion Toney was excited for the fight but also named David Benavidez as a man he thinks would beat both.
“That fight actually could be the Hagler-Hearns of this century. I love both of them, both can fight, but you know what, that boy, ‘The Mexican Monster,’ he’s coming for them. Benavidez will beat the winner.”
He was then asked who would win when Bivol and Beterbiev do battle.
“If it was for boxing, it would be Bivol. Knockout Beterbiev.”
