Combat Picks: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol

On Saturday, IBF/WBC/WBO gentle heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will face WBA counterpart Dmitry Bivol for the vacant Ring championship at The Kingdom Area, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The eagerly anticipated match up that can determine who’s the undisputed gentle heavyweight on the earth might be broadcast on DAZN at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT. And seven p.m. GMT. ESPN at 5 p.m. ET/ 12 midday PT.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 knockouts), rated at No. 1 by The Ring at gentle heavyweight, was an beginner standout, successful gold on the 2009 World Championships and competing on the 2012 Olympics. The physically-imposing Russian rapidly gained notoriety as an expert. He received the IBF gentle heavyweight title, stopping Enrico Koelling (KO 12) and defended towards Callum Johnson (KO 4) and Radivoje Kalajdzic (KO 5). His breakout win got here towards then-WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (TKO 10) in a unification bout.

The 39-year-old marked time towards Adam Deines (TKO 10) and Marcus Browne (KO 9) earlier than demolishing WBO titlist Joe Smith Jr. (TKO 2). He confirmed his toughness with a beatdown of Anthony Yarde (TKO 8) and bludgeoned Callum Smith into defeat (TKO 7)

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs), rated at No. 2 by The Ring at gentle heavyweight, was additionally an elite beginner earlier than turning skilled in November 2014. The now 33-year-old claimed the WBA gentle heavyweight title in 2017 and has reeled off 12 profitable defenses.

He holds wins over Sullivan Barrera (TKO 12), Isaac Chilemba (UD 12), Jean Pascal (UD 12) and Joe Smith Jr. (UD 12). A career-best win over Canelo Alvarez (UD 12) confirmed simply how good the Kyrgyzstan-born technician is. He picked aside Gilberto Ramirez (UD 12), stayed busy besting Lyndon Arthur (UD 12) and, most just lately, stopped Malik Zinad (TKO 6).

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 knockouts) ruptured his meniscus forcing their authentic June 1 battle to be pushed again. Is the knee now one hundred pc? Will Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) be capable to preserve Beterbiev trustworthy and away from touchdown his power-punches? How will Beterbiev take care of the good motion and elegant expertise of Bivol? With a lot on the road having circled one another for thus lengthy, who will take care of the event the most effective?

On-line playing group William Hill lists Bivol as an 4/5 (-125) favourite, whereas Beterbiev is priced at 11/10 (+110); the draw is 16/1 (+1600).

Right here’s how the consultants see it:

THE RING 

JAKE DONOVAN: BIVOL PTS

“I’ve not been torn on a decide extra so than this one. Actually no end result will shock me. Basing purely on intuition, my hunch is that this would be the night time the place age and inactivity lastly catch as much as Artur. Bivol will nonetheless should march by hell to get there however I anticipate him to financial institution simply sufficient rounds to eke out a choice.”

ANSON WAINWRIGHT: BETERBIEV TKO 10

“An incredible battle, a beautiful mix of types: Beterbiev’s energy boxing towards the textbook boxing expertise of Bivol. For my cash, the most effective battle in boxing. I completely can’t wait. My solely disappointment is that I received’t be there to observe it dwell. I used to be lucky to witness Beterbiev’s model of violence in particular person when he took aside the very succesful Callum Smith in January and he was a sight to behold. I’ve watched each from the start and did New Faces on them and have seen them change into two of the most effective fighters on the earth. I anticipate Bivol to make use of his expertise to field his method into an early lead. Nonetheless, Beterbiev will inch his method ahead slowly turning the screws and begin to come into issues within the second half of the battle. I feel as we head towards the championship rounds Bivol might be tiring and Beterviev, in the same method to how he beatdown Oleksandr Gvozdyk, will get a late stoppage. Beterbiev TKO 10.”

LEE GROVES: BIVOL UD

“It is a battle that has been years within the making, and each males couldn’t have requested for a greater preamble for this showdown — Bivol’s TKO of Malik Zinad and Beterbiev’s crushing of Callum Smith. Higher but, this pairing pits a consummate ring normal with sneaky energy in Bivol towards an enormous puncher with refined expertise in Beterbiev. On paper, that is pretty much as good because it will get in boxing, however has the wait been too lengthy? In spite of everything, Bivol is 33 and Beterbiev is a 39-year-old who’s coming off a knee harm. Right here’s a probably pivotal level of separation: The youthful Bivol is combating for the second time in 133 days whereas Beterbiev is competing following back-to-back layoffs of 12 months and 10 months. Will Beterbiev have the mobility and the required timing to catch a person of Bivol’s expertise? I don’t know, however his historical past suggests he’ll put forth the final word effort to make it so and he has demonstrated the one-shot energy to immediately flip a battle that isn’t going nicely for him. Will Bivol be the primary to go the space with Beterbiev, a lot much less be the primary to beat him? For me, the hesitant reply is sure due to his mixture of intelligence, self-discipline and ring generalship. Bivol by 12-round unanimous choice.”

Dmitry Bivol (left) on the assault towards Canelo Alvarez (proper) – Photograph by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

DIEGO MORILLA: BIVOL PTS

“A real 50-50 battle in contrast to some other that we’ve seen these days, little doubt about that. However the tiebreaker right here is the power to dominate an opponent, not simply to ship a knockout punch. Beterbiev has proven each qualities, however the mere indisputable fact that he has received by stoppage in each outing raises the query of how will he reply to a sensible and powerful fighter like Bivol, who will doubtless handle to avoid his tougher blows by taking the initiative and protecting Beterbiev at bay along with his excellent punch output. It’s potential that Bivol himself could have dominated out the potential of a knockout win, so he might be attempting to outbox and outmaneuver Beterbiev from the primary bell. Bivol has the instruments to take action, and if he’s capable of preserve the tempo and keep targeted, this battle is his to lose.”

MARTY MULCAHEY: BIVOL MD

“I see this as a 50-50 battle, and favored Artur Beterbiev when this match towards Dmitry Bivol was first introduced. With each passing month, and Beterbiev turning 39 years previous and coming off an harm, I doubt that decide extra now. Nonetheless, I’ll hesitantly persist with my first intuition. A part of a boxer’s mandate is to get the judges to observe him as a substitute of his opponent, and few do this extra effectively than Beterbiev along with his explosive array of punches. However, few are higher than Bivol at stopping offensive forces (like Canelo) with their jab and unimaginable sense of timing. There are various eventualities, for each males, that may result in victory. I see one the place Beterbiev is ready to keep inside and use his energy to attain factors if not knockdowns. My thoughts at all times comes again to judges appreciating Beterbiev’s work and energy over Bivol’s skillful counters and touchdown lighter punches at a better share. I’m going with a majority choice in favor of Bivol. And sure, it will likely be controversial.”

MICHAEL MONTERO: BIVOL UD

“I can’t watch for this battle! Greatest match up of the 12 months on paper.  Each males are comparable in top and size, and have had comparable exercise ranges within the 2020’s. Nonetheless, Bivol is youthful and seemingly more energizing. Beterbiev has suffered quite a few accidents and cuts all through his profession.  Actually, it was a meniscus tear Beterbiev suffered within the spring that postponed this bout till now. I acknowledge that Beterbiev has seemed virtually superhuman within the ring, shattering his opponents like a wrecking ball. However in some unspecified time in the future, all these accidents, mixed along with his fashion of combating, should take a toll. My perception is that Dmitry Bivol has the best fashion and temperament to beat Artur Beterbiev. Give me Bivol by unanimous choice in an ideal battle.”

NORM FRAUENHEIM: BIVOL UD

“It’s laborious to select towards perfection, At 20-0 with 20 KOs, that’s what Artur Beterbiev has been all through a superb, but typically unappreciated profession. However not even perfection can stand up to time. Beterbiev, the one reigning champion with an ideal report, is 39, nicely previous his prime. He’ll be 40 in January. Current accidents, together with one which postponed this battle, are a difficult signal that Father Time is at his doorstep. The tactically-skilled Bivol, who’s as pragmatic and affected person as anybody within the enterprise, has sustained his share of accidents. But, he’s 33, nonetheless prime time. His jab, footwork and underrated toughness had been sufficient to beat Canelo Alvarez, who merely exhausted himself in a livid try to punch by Bivol’s cussed protection in Might 2022. Within the late rounds, Canelo was exhausted and — ultimately — crushed in a scorecard loss, a possible destiny awaiting Beterbiev.”

RON BORGES: BIVOL PTS

“Bivol is a extremely expert fighter with underrated punching energy, accuracy and nice endurance. He merely took Canelo Alvarez aside piece by piece in a much more complete victory than some appeared to understand. Having mentioned that, Beterbiev is a BEAST who comes into this battle 20-0, all wins by knockout. His superior energy is evident and his relentlessness unquestioned. What’s in query is his age. At 39, he has begun to indicate the indicators of slippage that each one fighters, no matter how dominating they as soon as had been, face. He’s additionally not as sound defensively as Bivol, which if the battle drags on will change into a much bigger issue due to Bivol’s accuracy. That is actually a tossup and definitely Beterbiev has the facility and tenacity to make it 21 straight, however I’m going with Bivol by choice in a battle he takes over within the second half of the match.”

BOXING INSIDERS

DUKE MCKENZIE (FORMER THREE-DIVISION TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): BIVOL MD

“Finally the battle the world and his brother have been ready for Beterbiev vs. Bivol. This matchup pits an entire KO artist towards an entire boxer there aren’t any prizes as to who I feel can win this battle. Given the hazard that Beterbiev carries, he’s fairly merely a wrecking machine however with the cool head of an murderer, and up till this level he has backed up his boast with a formidable one hundred pc KO ratio of knockouts, nobody has gone the space with him. Nonetheless, his equal when it comes to this being a unification battle is the whole boxer and you realize I like boxers. Bivol is tall, rangy, has glorious stamina, a fairly sensible ring IQ. We’re going to discover out if he can take a punch as he’ll undoubtedly get nailed in some unspecified time in the future throughout the 12 rounds. His preparation when it comes to the caliber of boxer he has fought has been spot-on, beating the pound-for-pound man of the second in Canelo Alvarez, which has carried out wonders for his confidence. I’m going with Bivol by a majority choice.”

SERGIO MORA: (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/ COMMENTATOR): BIVOL PTS

“Anytime we now have a 50-50 sort battle the place selecting a winner is troublesome, I normally lean to the boxer with the higher footwork. Bivol can field out and in, transfer laterally, keep off ropes and field from angles. Beterbiev is intelligent at closing distance, and his boxing IQ will get overshadowed by his energy hitting you wherever—which is what you want towards Bivol. He should preserve all the battle in the midst of the ring… one thing he does superbly. Bivol by (nail biting) choice.”

RUDY HERNANDEZ (TRAINER): BETERBIEV KO

“I want this battle would’ve occurred a number of years in the past, as followers we might have gotten more energizing and youthful fighters. Beterbiev is a knockout artist however I feel he’s underrated as a boxer that has a superb I.Q. As a boxer. Bivol could be very, superb at utilizing fundamentals techniques. Jab, jab. He controls the space and doesn’t enterprise out. I imagine that Beterbiev’s energy would be the distinction on this battle. Beterbiev by late knockout, if he didn’t get previous.”

RICH MAROTTA (COMMENTATOR): BETERBIEV TKO 11

“It’s a crying disgrace the Artur Beterbiev-Dimitry Bivol battle won’t acquire mainstream sports activities protection. It’s as high quality a battle getting into that I can keep in mind, and making a variety is troublesome. Neither fighter has tasted defeat, and every is close to of the highest of the game in what they do finest, Bivol in expertise, Beterbiev in energy. Every has huge confidence and can to win. All this mentioned, I see Bivol dominating the early rounds along with his implausible footwork and mixtures. On a regular basis although, Beterbiev might be in there, touchdown fewer pictures, however placing on relentless stress and doing harm. He’ll start to see his efforts repay across the halfway level. Bivol will begin to sluggish, and Artur might be on him. He’ll break Dimitry down bodily, and the fixed stress will even present huge psychological stress for Bivol. Lastly, Beterbiev, who should still be trailing on the playing cards will cease Bivol within the eleventh spherical.”

TOM GRAY (FORMER MANAGING EDITOR FOR THE RING): BIVOL MD 

“After Bivol stood Gilberto Ramirez on his head, the decide was Bivol. After Beterbiev destroyed Callum Smith, the decide was Beterbiev. It’s a kind of fights the place you simply can’t make certain what’ll occur. I’ll roll with Bivol as a result of he’s youthful, more energizing, and tougher to nail cleanly. Additionally, Beterbiev’s physique appears to be breaking apart on him a little bit. I don’t care if I’m proper or mistaken. All I would like is an undisputed gentle heavyweight title battle that conjures up reminiscences of the division’s glory years. Bivol by majority choice.”

Artur Beterbiev (left) demolishes Oleksandr Gvozdyk (proper) -P hoto by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank

STEVE KIM (THE 3 KNOCKDOWN RULE): BIVOL PTS

“That is the most effective pure battle on the boxing calendar for the remainder of 2024. It’s a real 50-50 proposition. You may make a robust argument for both man on this boxer-versus-puncher matchup. My view is that whereas Beterbiev is among the strongest fighters on the earth at the moment, Bivol has the abilities to neutralize that side along with his athleticism and deft footwork. I get the sense that Bivol is the more energizing fighter with much less bodily wear-and-tear, which is a key element on this bout. My intestine (which could possibly be mistaken) tells me that he’s the sort of man who rises to the extent of opposition — simply as he did towards Canelo Alvarez. He should survive some robust moments, however I feel he’ll overcome them and win a detailed choice.”

MATTHEW MACKLIN (FORMER WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER/ COMMENTATOR): BETERBIEV TKO

“Powerful one to select. They’re each high fighters however very totally different types. You’d think about Beterbiev should be beginning to decelerate however nonetheless seemed devastating towards Callum Smith, so I’m going with him. Bivol has nice ft, will get out and in so nicely however Beterbiev is excellent at chopping off the ring. Beterbiev by late TKO.”

JOE ROTONDA (MATCHMAKER, MAIN EVENTS): BIVOL UD

“I feel that is the most effective battle that may be made within the sport at the moment. Each guys undefeated, the most effective of their division, and have been utterly dominant all through their careers. Each fighters have such contrasting types. Beterbiev being the facility puncher, and Bivol being the boxer. I’ve to present the sting to the youthful of the 2. I feel Bivol’s fashion is a serious drawback for the 39-year-old Beterbiev. Dmitry is tremendous elusive within the ring, and he has at all times carried out an ideal job of avoiding pointless pictures when going through large punchers. He additionally has some of the efficient jabs, which we noticed when he beat Canelo two years in the past. I’m going with Bivol to earn the unanimous choice.”

ROBERT DIAZ (MATCHMAKER): BIVOL UD

“The very best battle that may be made in boxing has been made. A real 50-50 battle and it’s lastly arrived. one hundred pc KO ration vs. a grasp boxer. Energy vs. mind. Who wins and the way? I imagine even on this ballot it will likely be 50-50 and break up down the center by the consultants. I see one of many closest battle and most entertaining fights we now have seen in ages. Beterbiev is stressed and continually in search of the KO whereas Bivol the grasp boxer will field, preserve the motion to throw off the assault of Beterbiev. In the long run, a really shut unanimous choice for the winner and undisputed gentle heavyweight world champion: Bivol.”

JOLENE MIZZONE (MANAGER): BIVOL UD

“The previous saying is types make fights! I feel that Bivol is simply too good of a boxer to lose to Beterbiev. Sure, Beterbiev has the facility, however I don’t suppose he’ll be capable to contact Bivol the way in which he has with others. I additionally, suppose Bivol has a chip on his shoulder to show that he’s one in every of finest and he by no means actually will get or obtained the credit score he deserves. Bivol could go down, however I imagine he will get off the canvas to win a choice.”

ALEX STEEDMAN (COMMENTATOR): BETERBIEV

“It is a mouthwatering match up. Can the sensible boxer Bivol neutralize such a potent, attacking fighter as Beterbiev? Bivol will look to offset and incessantly flip Beterbiev and it’s potential he can do precisely that for prolonged durations. However Beterbiev has craft, guile and approach himself; he’s not simply the heavy punching machine his report suggests. I feel Beterbiev could make issues uncomfortable for Bivol and punch with him in these areas to trigger panic. I recall the late Ron Lewis telling me how good Beterbiev was and could be on the very begin of his skilled journey and I feel we’ll get to see precisely how proper he was.”

RAUL MARQUEZ (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/COMMENTATOR): BIVOL UD

“I feel it’s a 50-50 battle. Can Beterbiev breakdown Bivol within the second half of the battle? Sure, it’s potential however I imagine Bivol is ready to management vary and outbox him to a 12-round shut unanimous choice win.”

Last Tally: Bivol 15-5

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Joe Smith Jr. breaks down the Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev stylistic matchup

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