It’s a much-anticipated matchup more than five years in the making, and in six weeks’ time, we’ll finally crown an undisputed king at 175lbs when unified champion Artur Beterbiev boxes long-reigning WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol in a battle of two unbeaten Russians. Even as time has passed, the general public appear split on who will prevail and how this fight will be won and lost.
Just the right time? Beterbiev-Bivol packed with jeopardy
Artur Beterbiev (c) vs. Dmitry Bivol (c)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Kingdom Arena
June 1 for undisputed light-heavyweight world titles
Winner will become the first king at 175lbs in the four-belt era
ARTUR Beterbiev is a man of few words at the best of times, but if there’s one opponent who could entice him into even the faintest hint of engaging, it would have to be a compatriot and former Russian amateur teammate in Dmitry Bivol.
39 vs. 33. Senior vs. junior and while they’ve both swept aside their competition with minimal fuss in a buzzing 175lb division, this fight felt inevitable at some stage.
That we’re finally getting it, two weeks removed from crowning a new heavyweight king on the same Saudi shores, is an eventuality that couldn’t be more than a pipe dream for most fans up until this time last year.
“All the belts were with Top Rank, I asked and got the answer that no-one would make it… the only reason it’s happening is because of Turki Alshaikh.”
- Bivol on why the Beterbiev bout didn’t come to fruition sooner, and why it’s happening now
That sentence has become commonplace in the sport of boxing over the past nine months, and more is still promised from an avid fan with the financial muscle and seemingly limitless contacts book to deliver as he pleases.
Former two-time world super-middleweight champion David Benavidez must first emerge unscathed vs. former world titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk this summer, but having the 27-year-old waiting in the wings for this winner in their first undisputed title defence is another subplot to a tree of permutations on a busy night in Riyadh.
Eddie Hearn, Bivol’s promoter, would love to deliver the man capable of beating Beterbiev in a tussle of two unbeaten champions given his British fighters have fallen short on two occasions five years apart – Callum Johnson and Callum Smith.
Many questioned Beterbiev’s long-term durability and resume quality, given the early scare he suffered – a second-round knockdown – against Johnson during his first IBF world title defence in October 2018. That has almost been forgotten in the years and numerous title defences since, having rallied well that night through adversity.
He scored a fourth-round knockout win and Johnson ended a two-year layoff three weeks before Christmas, returning at cruiserweight against overmatched opposition.
The contrast in their activity as champions
IBF, WBC, WBO champ Beterbiev
Jan. 2024: Callum Smith, R7 TKO
January 2023: Anthony Yarde, R8 TKO
WBO – June 2022: Joe Smith Jr, R2 TKO
December 21: Marcus Browne, R9 KO
March 2021: Adam Deines, R1O TKO
WBC – Oct. 19: Oleksandr Gvozdyk, R10 TKO
May 2019: Radivoje Kalajdzic, R5 KO
October 2018: Callum Johnson, R4 KO
IBF – Nov. 2017: Enrico Koelling, R12 KO
WBA titleholder Bivol
December 2023: Lyndon Arthur, UD12
November 22: Gilberto Ramirez, UD12
May 2022: Canelo Alvarez, UD12
December 21: Umar Salamov, UD12
May 2021: Craig Richards, UD12
October 19: Gilbert Castillo Rivera, UD12
March 2019: Joe Smith Jr, UD12
Nov. 18: Jean Pascal, UD12
August 18: Isaac Chilemba, UD12
March 2018: Sullivan Barrera, R12 TKO
Nov. 2017: Trent Broadhurst, R1 KO
Former WBA super-middleweight world champion Smith was ruthlessly dispatched in Canada to start this year, while 19 others have succumb to the same ominous fate.
Bivol represents a different proposition to Beterbiev’s previous opponents given his technical boxing skills and subtle intricacies most can’t match, though has only boxed once since his excellent 2022 campaign saw wins over Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, six months apart. Will he be able to maintain distance?
Beterbiev has incorrectly been deemed a puncher, the 20-0 and 20 knockouts on his record making many believe if you’re able to reduce the effectiveness of his power, you’ll have sustained success as Anthony Yarde did in stages 16 months ago.
He cuts off distance well, is unafraid to get hit when pressing into favourable ring positions and much like amateur foe Oleksandr Usyk, drains you with the amount of movement – and therefore, thinking – you must do to consistently keep him at bay.
Bivol benefits when able to dictate space, timing and tempo in bouts. It’ll be interesting to see how he and his team adjust accordingly here, against a man they’ve long been planning for if we are to believe the 33-year-old’s declarations – and his promoter – but he doesn’t need to be told: be careful what you wish for.
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 