Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are finally set off to crown the best light-heavyweight on the planet after years of dominating the division.
The undisputed bout, set for October 12, pits the slick precision of Bivol against the raw aggression and scary power of Beterbiev, who is the only current world champion with a 100% knockout-to-fight ratio.
The fight was initially postponed due to an injury on Beterbiev’s part, who is five years older than the more active Bivol.
Speaking on his podcast after Beterbiev’s fight against Anthony Yarde, famed trainer turned analyst Teddy Atlas backed Bivol to get the stoppage – something he has achieved only once in his last ten bouts.
“He’s slowing down. He’s cutting up easier. He’s 38 years old with 300 amateur fights. A lot of tough fights in the pros. He’s ageing, nobody beats Father Time.
I never will rule out Beterbiev, he’s got power, he’s got character and pride. But, yeah, I got Bivol a solid favourite. I think there’s a good chance he stops him late in the fight, either by cuts or by just an endless barrage of punches – Beterbiev is not a defensive wizard – where the referee would probably have to stop it or his corner would have to stop it.”
Bivol puts his WBA belt on the line against Beterbiev’s IBF, WBO and WBC. David Benavidez is the WBC mandatory challenger for the winner, but fans will perhaps expect whoever comes out on top, particularly Beterbiev, to consider hanging up the gloves after such an achievement – there hasn’t been an undisputed champion in the division since Roy Jones Jr.
