Boxing

Beterbiev vs Bivol preview: Who will be crowned light-heavyweight king?

Artur Beterbiev will put his 100% knockout ratio on the line as he collides with fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown this weekend in Saudi Arabia’s capital.

The IBF, WBC and WBO world champion Beterbiev and WBA title holder Bivol are both yet to taste defeat in a professional boxing ring, meaning someone’s 0 has to go in Saturday’s historic clash.

This weekend, Beterbiev (20-0-0) will fight for the first time since January when he stopped Liverpool’s Callum Smith in a gruelling affair. The Russian knockout artists’ road to Undisputed started back in 2017 when he won the IBF title against Germany’s Enrico Koelling.

He then unified the IBF and WBC titles with victory over Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk, before adding the WBO title with a second round demolition job over Joe Smith Jr at Madison Square Garden in 2022.

Only the WBA title remains for Beterbiev, which has been in possession of Bivol (23-0-0) since 2017. Bivol has defended the black and gold belt 12 times, stopping just three opponents on his title run.

2J783MN Las Vegas, United States. 06th May, 2022. LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 6: Boxer Dmitry Bivol poses on the scale during the official weigh-in for his bout Canelo Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena on May 7, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photo by Alejandro Salazar/PxImages) Credit: Px Images/Alamy Live News

Since winning the WBA belt seven years ago, Bivol has assembled one of the most impressive resumes in the sport of boxing, with notable wins over Jean Pascal, Umar Salamov, Gilberto Ramirez and pound for pound star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. In his most recent title defence over heavy underdog Malik Zinad – Bivol won by stoppage for the first time in five years, and will be hoping to carry that form into one of the biggest fights of the year on Saturday.

The undisputed title fight was originally scheduled for June in 2024, however a knee injury to Beterbiev forced the bout to be rescheduled to October and with just days away until a new king of the light-heavyweight division is crowned – what can we expect to see this Saturday?

Beterbiev has stopped every opponent he has faced, with 35% of his fights ending in the first two rounds. Only three opponents have made it to the tenth round, but they all failed to hear the final bell.

When Beterbiev stopped Gvozdyk in round ten of their unification bout in 2019, he was down on two of the judges scorecards at the time of the stoppage. He is just as dangerous in the latter half of the fight as he is in the opening rounds.

Bivol however, has gone the 12 round distance nine times and boasts just a 52% knockout ratio compared to the flawless knockout ratio of his foe this weekend.

Can Bivol withstand the power of Beterbiev? In his professional career, Bivol is yet to touch the canvas. However when Smith, Gvozdyk, Callum Johnson, Marcus Browne and Adam Dienes stepped in with Beterbiev, none had been knocked out previously, yet the power and pressure of the Russian proved too much.

There have been some nervy moments for Beterbiev in his 11-year professional career. He was dropped heavily by Brit Callum Johnson who was undoubtedly just a few punches away from stopping the Russian. Beterbiev was also sent to the canvas in the first round by Jeff Page Jr before returning the favour and subsequently stopping the American just two rounds later.

Beterbiev has been in the ring with some of the biggest punchers in the light-heavyweight division and has proved he has a granite chin. Bivol is certainly not a knockout artist, and it would be extremely shocking to see the WBA champion have Beterbiev in trouble during their fight.

Bivol is certainly more comfortable boxing his way to a decision, which he has done on so many occasions, however if Beterbiev can close the distance and force Bivol into a shootout, there’s only one man who will come out on top. The relentless pressure and punch variety of Beterbiev will ask questions of his opponent, but if Bivol can fight at his own pace and control the distance to nullify Beterbiev’s bullish style, this one could go the whole 12 rounds.

Fight Prediction: 

Beterbiev’s age (39) and history of injuries must be considered, can he maintain his come-forward aggressive style for 12 rounds? If this fight goes the distance, I expect Bivol to take it by decision, however he is yet to taste the power of anyone like Beterbiev. Bivol has one of the highest boxing IQ’s in the sport. In a fight of this magnitude he knows he can’t afford to take risks in the early rounds with arguably the biggest puncher in the sport. However as the rounds progress, Beterbiev’s pressure and power will eventually break Bivol. Beterbiev will stop Bivol in rounds 9-12 maintaining his 100% knockout ratio.