Artur Beterbiev versus Dmitry Bivol is a mouthwatering light-heavyweight clash that could go either way.
The fight, after a delay due to a knee injury to Beterbiev, is set to play out on October 12 atop a huge card including a great all-British heavyweight rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazier Clarke, plus Shakur Stevenson’s next defence against Welshman Joe Cordina.
Stevenson is one of the best young talents in boxing right now and will welcome former super featherweight champion Cordina to the lightweight ranks as chief support.
Ahead of the event in Saudi Arabia and speaking to Boxing News, Stevenson was asked how he sees the fight going between Beterbiev and Bivol.
“Helluva fight, helluva fight. Like I said, me and ‘Tank’ is the biggest from a popularity standpoint, we’re a lot bigger than that fight, but from a skill point of view, that fight is up there too in my opinion. Artur Beterbiev is the big puncher, the monster, the boogeyman, then you got Bivol who is a helluva boxer, controls the distance well, barely gets touched, got great feet. I think that fight is right up there, skill wise, as one of the best fights for me.”
He was then asked for an outright prediction.
“I like Bivol, footwork, his good conditioning, the good jab that he got, I think he gonna control the distance. Beterbiev got skills that people don’t know too with his feet, he got a good jab too. Truthfully it’s going to be a hell of a fight but I’m picking Bivol to win.”
