Huge light heavy match
BOXING fans are in for a fistic treat. THE year is barely a month old but this early plans are already being mapped out to bring into fruition one of the most anticipated fights in the sport.
We are talking about the light heavyweight showdown between Russians Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed (WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF) 175-pound championship.
Beterbiev holds the WBC, WBO and IBF jewels while Bivol owns the WBA plum.
The two champions offer contrasting styles which make a fight between them mouth-watering.
Beterbiev totes a fearsome record of 20-0 with 20 knockouts. The guy is an absolute monster, having knocked out all of his opponents since turning pro in June 2013.
Beterbiev initially won the IBF title in 2017 and added the WBC version in 2019.
In June 2022, he hammered Joe Smith Jr. in two rounds to win the WBO crown and unify all three (WBC, WBO, IBF) belts.
One of four children, Beterbiev was born in the city of Khasavyurt in southern Russia. Beterbiev was barely 16 years old and was already competing in amateur boxing when he lost his father in a horrific vehicular mishap. He initially thought of archiving the gloves but was convinced by his mother to return to the ring.
As an amateur, Beterbiev won a silver medal in the 2007 World Championships and golds at the 2008 World Cup and 2009 World Championships. He also reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 Olympics.
Competing in the heavyweight division of the Olympics, he dropped out of the gold medal race after losing to current unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Since turning pro, Beterbiev has been terrorizing foes in the punch-forpay business.
Beterbiev’s punching power is simply paralyzing. The guy has enough power in his mitts to topple a condemned building.
In Bivol, however, Beterbiev will be facing a master tactician.
Bivol, whose mother is of Korean nationality, became interested in boxing at age 6. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Bivol’s family relocated to Russia and settled in St. Petersburg.
Bivol’s parents wanted him to hit the books, but Bivol instead joined a sports club. Bivol started with wushu, inspired by the movies of Jackie Chan.
When Bivol realized that he did not like kicking, his father Yuri brought him to a boxing gym at age six.
Bivol compiled an amateur record of 268 wins against only 15 losses.
He won the Russian national amateur boxing championships in 2012 and 2014.
In November 2014, Bivol turned pro and within three years won the WBA light heavyweight crown.
However, Bivol did not become a household name until May 2022, when he outclassed Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to successfully defend his WBA diadem.
Alvarez was a 4-1 favorite but he was totally dominated by Bivol. Not a few thought the scorecards did not reflect Bivol’s lopsided victory. Bivol is a boxer at an elite level, one who judiciously dissects foes.
Bivol-Beterbiev makes for the classic boxer versus puncher matchup.
In pro boxing, this makes for an ideal pairing.
Boxing fans have been demanding a unification bout between the two and it appears their wish will finally be granted this year.
Beterbiev is promoted by Top Rank Promotions and head honcho Bob Arum recently told reporters that he is working overtime to stage the unification fight, most likely in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bivol (22-0, 11 knockouts) is identified with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn but remains hopeful the two promotional outfits will find a way to work together.
The clock is ticking. Beterbiev turned 39 last January 21 while Bivol is already 33 years old.
Beterbiev is a devout Muslim and he traditionally schedules his fights around Ramadan which is expected to begin on March 20 and conclude on April 9.
Arum said he is looking to schedule the fight some three months after Ramadan to give Beterbiev a full training camp. The tentative fight date is July.
Hearn also disclosed that Bivol has agreed to the contractual terms offered by the Saudi officials who will handle the fight in Riyadh.
Bivol has acknowledged that the Beterbiev fight will be the toughest in his career. He acknowledged the brute strength of Beterbiev.
The winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev fight will produce the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.