Dmitry Bivol may very well be heading in direction of profession oblivion by going by way of together with his promoter Eddie Hearn’s plans to steam straight right into a rematch with Artur Beterbiev.
Hearn thinks Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) rightfully received final Saturday night time in his loss to IBF, WBC, and WBO gentle heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs). He doesn’t care that the three skilled judges who labored the battle didn’t suppose Bivol did sufficient to win.
Bivol’s Profession Will Be within the Mud
If Bivol is knocked out within the rematch with Beterbiev in 2025, his purses will probably drop from that time on. Hearn must put Bivol in a time-consuming, expensive rebuild, and who is aware of how lengthy that may take.
If Hearn chooses to take a drunken gambler’s strategy to bringing Dmitry again from a second loss to Beterbiev, he may throw him in with Joshua Buatsi, David Morrell, or David Benavidez and hope that he can finesse his method to a call victory through the use of his ft.
I don’t see it ending nicely for Bivol towards any of these three as a result of they’re glorious at slicing off the ring towards runners, particularly with ones which have a chin drawback and can’t stand and battle. Bivol would crumble towards these three, even now. Morrell, Buatsi, and Benavidez can be throughout Bivol and wouldn’t present him the sort of respect that Beterbiev foolishly did.
Hearn feels he is aware of higher than him, and he’s able to gamble with Bivol by sending him right into a rematch with undisputed 175-lb champion Beterbiev. That would finish badly for Bivol, with him getting knocked out and drastically diminishing reputation.
It could be laborious for Bivol to come back again from a second defeat towards Beterbiev as a result of the possibilities are he’ll be knocked out subsequent time. Beterbiev has discovered Bivol now, figuring out he’s timid, has little energy, and might’t deal with being stormed in big waves.
The thoughts of Bivol is powerful, however the flesh is weak. He appeared very fragile every time Beterbiev would put it on him and chase him across the ring, nailing him with clubbing photographs to the top and bread basket.
Bivol buckled each time Beterbiev attacked him relentlessly final Saturday night time. He’s simply fortunate that Beterbiev didn’t storm the trenches from the get-go in spherical one as a result of he wouldn’t have made it to the twelfth spherical below these circumstances.
If he left nicely sufficient alone, they may declare an ethical victory by going 12 rounds with the monster Beterbiev and making it a detailed affair. It’s not a win, however he can stay with that. He can proceed trumpeting how Bivol deserved a win over Beterbiev and use it as a promotional software to create curiosity in his fights.
“In fact, he doesn’t suppose Artur received, however he’s not going to sit down there once you’ve received me kicking and screaming?” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, indicating that Dmitry Bivol doesn’t consider he actually misplaced to Artur Beterbiev final Saturday.
I don’t suppose Bivol believes he actually received. In trying on the approach Bivol spoke after the battle, he knew he’d fallen aside through the second half of the competition, and was near being knocked out by Beterbiev.
“He is aware of he received that battle, however he’s not ready to complain and moan. One factor he mentioned was, ‘I will be so significantly better.’ I felt he boxed unbelievably. It was a pound-for-pound nice efficiency, however he felt he may do higher. Hopefully, he can put that proper within the rematch,” mentioned Hearn about his hopes for Bivol.
Hearn could make the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch, however he’ll remorse it ultimately. Beterbiev is just too highly effective and received’t hesitate within the rematch to right away tear into Bivol, raking him with energy photographs to make fast work of him.
Bivol’s profession might be successfully over as a serious participant after a knockout loss to Beterbiev, and Hearn should determine an exit technique on methods to salvage the rest of his contract.
