Artur Beterbiev enters the Kingdom Arena here in Saudi Arabia as the hungriest fighter in the world.
The Russian, who bridles at being nicknamed the Monster, has not eaten solid food since his supper on Wednesday evening.
But he might also be acclaimed as Artur the Great Destroyer, with a perfect record of 20 knockouts in his 20 professional fights.
Now Beterbiev expects his three-day regime of liquids-only to help him defeat compatriot Dmitry Bivol and realise his ‘ultimate ambition’ of becoming undisputed world light-heavyweight champion.
To that end, his 72-hour pre-fight fasting darkens his mood into that of the most intimidating boxer on the planet. ‘I am not a monster,’ he says on the eve of the most important battle of his life. ‘This I think you can see. My name is just Artur. I am a kind person, but I cannot be kind in the ring.
‘Not eating for three days makes me mean. Really mean in the boxing, which for now is my real life. When it is over, I return to my family life.’
At 39, retirement into domestic bliss with his wife Medina and their four children would be fast approaching for almost all practitioners of the hardest game. But not for Beterbiev.
Ask how old he feels and he says: ’29. My condition comes partly from dedication to my work, partly from observation of my faith.’
