The Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol Rematch will occur a yr from now, in October 2025, through the Riyadh Season. Promoter Bob Arum revealed that undisputed gentle heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) could have interim fights earlier than assembly subsequent yr in October.
Bivol misplaced a 12-round majority resolution to Beterbiev on October twelfth in Riyadh. Beterbiev wore Bivol down with stress within the second half and had him harm a number of occasions. The necessity for a rematch relies on Bivol profitable a lot of the early rounds on account of Beterbiev’s sluggish begin.
In an interview with Dan Rafael, Prime Rank promoter Arum stated that Beterbiev and Bivol would combat different opponents earlier than assembly on the opening of the subsequent Riyadh Season.
Beterbiev May Face Eifert Subsequent
Followers don’t need that, however the Saudis are financing the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch, so the second combat will happen then. Arum didn’t reveal who Beterbiev will combat for his interim match, however his fingers are tied.
The IBF ordered Beterbiev to defend towards Michael Eifert, which is obligatory with their group subsequent, and he should try this if he desires to maintain that belt.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn promotes Bivol, and he’ll probably not wish to take any dangers with him shedding to somebody whereas ready for the profitable rematch with Beterbiev. Hearn could match Bivol towards one of many British contenders quite than take a danger by placing him in with the winner of the January twenty fifth conflict between David Benavidez and David Morrell.
These guys have the facility and youth to place Bivol on the run as Beterbiev did, however they did it from the primary spherical. They wouldn’t wait till the seventh like Beterbiev did to place Bivol beneath hearth.
Bivol’s Potential Choices for Interim Combat
Hearn clearly is aware of it might be a foul concept to match Bivol towards Benavidez or Morrell. So, it’s probably that he’ll choose one among these fighters for his interim bout:
– Dan Azeez
– Callum Smith
– Anthony Yarde
– Wily Hutchinson
– Joshua Buatsi
Of all these names, Azeez or Callum would probably be the subsequent opponent for Bivol. Buatsi is just too harmful, and Hutchinson is just too robust for Hearn to make use of both of these guys.
I might favor Buatsi over Bivol based mostly on how the 2 fighters appeared of their final contests. Hutchinson is hard sufficient to offer Bivol large issues together with his youth, stress an unorthodox type. That’s a combat Bivol may lose or look very unhealthy in.
Strain = Kryptonite for Bivol
Bivol is an efficient fighter, however he can’t deal with stress and has little or no energy. Furthermore, Bivol doesn’t like getting hit to the physique, as seen within the later rounds towards Beterbiev and in his combat final December towards Lyndon Arthur. When Arthur and Beterbiev hit Bivol to the breadbasket, he went into retreat mode for the rest of these two fights. The white flag of give up went up for Bivol when getting hit to the physique.
