Former Light-Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev Predicts Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol

Former Light-Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev Predicts Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
Image credit: Matchroom

Dmitry Bivol‘s skill, movement and focus will face its ultimate test against Artur Beterbiev‘s devastating power and calculated precision next month.

Although Beterbiev brings much more to the table than just power, his 100% knockout ratio – the only active world champion who can claim such a record – against Bivol’s smart boxing is the main narrative of the four-belt clash. Together the fighters have cleaned up the 175 ranks as they waited for an opportunity to face off.

WBA Champion Bivol is coming off wins against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Gilberto Ramirez, Lyndon Arthur and Malik Zinad. Beterbiev has most recently defended his unified titles against Marcus Browne, Joe Smith Jr, Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith.

The winner of the fight will be the first light-heavyweight undisputed champion since Roy Jones – a division that has always enjoyed the presence of thrilling fighters, not least Jones as well as the likes of Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev.

Speaking to Boxing News, Kovalev – who won three of the four major belts in his prime – called the fight close but backed Bivol due to his movement.

“It’s difficult to make any predictions but [I lean] more to Dmitry, because Dmitry has legs, legs to jump forward and back, forward and back. Movement decides a lot in boxing. It’s a Russian saying, the legs feed the wolf.

Following an initial postponement, the undisputed fight now tops a star-studded undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12.