There hasn’t been an undisputed light heavyweight champion since Roy Jones held the three recognized belts at the end of the last century. Barring a draw on Saturday, either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol will hold all four titles after the two face off in Saudi Arabia. And it could be the best fight of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
Beterbiev and Bivol have been trying to make this fight for more than year. But Beterbiev has dealt with multiple injuries, postponing the chance for a true 175-pound king to emerge. Now the 39-year-old Beterbiev, who is coming off knee surgery earlier this year, apparently is healthy (or at least as healthy as he’s going to be), and Bivol is coming off a string of impressive victories (including a dominating win vs. pound-for-pound fighter Canelo Alvarez).
This could end up being the best fight of the year. Even if Beterbiev isn’t at his physical peak, the fact these two are battling for the undisputed light heavyweight champion has him ready to perform.
“It’s top of the meaning in professional boxing when you have four belts, and that’s it,” said Beterbiev, who already has three of the 175-poud belts. “I want to win a fourth one. We have prepared for this fight, to be ready for everything.”
Bivol said that as well. In his head during training, Bivol said he visualized every scenario that could occur in the bout. He said that kind of visualization keeps him calm, because he’s ready for anything. Though observers might believe Beterbiev’s best chance is to win by KO and Bivol’s best chance is to outbox his opponent, Beterbiev is also a skillful boxer and Bivol has solid power.
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Bivol could win by stoppage, and Beterbiev could win by decision. Or it could be the other way around. Either way, Bivol wants to make sure that he performs as perfectly as he can.
“I wanted the undisputed fight, first, and I wanted to fight against the best boxers in the light heavyweight division,” Bivol said. “This is my goal, to make my name in this sport. He has these belts.
“This is my goal when I came to pro boxing, to be the best in the light heavyweight division and this is the final fight to prove myself. What it means for me? I’ve been in boxing since I was 6 years old. All my journey, I was working hard. I sacrificed so much in my life. This is the final step. Did I do everything right or not? I want to make it that I did everything right.”
Here’s more info on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday (the rest of the undercard can be streamed on DAZN).
There hasn’t been an undisputed light heavyweight champion since Roy Jones held the three recognized belts at the end of the last century. Barring a draw on Saturday, either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol will hold all four titles after the two face off in Saudi Arabia. And it could be the best fight of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
Beterbiev and Bivol have been trying to make this fight for more than year. But Beterbiev has dealt with multiple injuries, postponing the chance for a true 175-pound king to emerge. Now the 39-year-old Beterbiev, who is coming off knee surgery earlier this year, apparently is healthy (or at least as healthy as he’s going to be), and Bivol is coming off a string of impressive victories (including a dominating win vs. pound-for-pound fighter Canelo Alvarez).
This could end up being the best fight of the year. Even if Beterbiev isn’t at his physical peak, the fact these two are battling for the undisputed light heavyweight champion has him ready to perform.
“It’s top of the meaning in professional boxing when you have four belts, and that’s it,” said Beterbiev, who already has three of the 175-poud belts. “I want to win a fourth one. We have prepared for this fight, to be ready for everything.”
Bivol said that as well. In his head during training, Bivol said he visualized every scenario that could occur in the bout. He said that kind of visualization keeps him calm, because he’s ready for anything. Though observers might believe Beterbiev’s best chance is to win by KO and Bivol’s best chance is to outbox his opponent, Beterbiev is also a skillful boxer and Bivol has solid power.
Bivol could win by stoppage, and Beterbiev could win by decision. Or it could be the other way around. Either way, Bivol wants to make sure that he performs as perfectly as he can.
“I wanted the undisputed fight, first, and I wanted to fight against the best boxers in the light heavyweight division,” Bivol said. “This is my goal, to make my name in this sport. He has these belts.
