Teofimo Lopez has a clear view on the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Beterbiev and Bivol first came to blows back in October. At that point, they were both light heavyweight world champions and neither man had been beaten in the professional ring.
Amongst Beterbiev’s best wins are the likes of British contenders Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde and Callum Johnson. Like every man he faced until Bivol, they were all knocked out inside the distance having succumbed to the Canada-based Russian’s notorious power shots.
Bivol is much more a stylist and technician than a power puncher. He has beaten the likes of Craig Richards, Lyndon Arthur and Gilberto Ramirez, though his most notable win came against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, becoming only the second man to best the multi-weight great.
The undisputed fight was a close contest which saw Beterbiev rally in the later rounds and impose himself enough to take a win on the cards.
Two-weight world champion Lopez has now given his prediction for the rematch.
“I think same outcome. Beterbiev, but, I’m rooting for Bivol, Hopefully he does better than the first time. If anything, I think Beterbiev is going to hurt Bivol this time around. But kudos to Bivol man, he boxed very well, he just didn’t show enough grit in the championship rounds. It’s a great fight.”
The contest tops a huge bill in Saudi Arabia on February 22 which also features the likes of Daniel Dubois’s IBF title defence against Joseph Parker.
