Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to face off in Saudi Arabia in June or July for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.
Matchroom has announced that Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) has signed his part of the contract, and Top Rank is working on finalizing a deal for Beterbiev to participate in Saudi Arabia. It has taken several years for this fight to come to fruition.
Beterbiev has stated that Bivol had expressed interest in fighting numerous times over the years but had never followed through, leading him to question Bivol’s commitment to the fight. He referenced the situation as “weird.”
The upcoming Bivol vs. Beterbiev bout will showcase a contrast in styles, with Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight champion, known for his technical prowess, while Beterbiev, the IBF, WBC, and WBO champion, is renowned for his power and aggression, having secured all 20 of his victories via knockout.
However, following Beterbiev’s recent display of skill in his triumph over Callum Smith, some argue that his technical ability is on par with Bivol’s.
Gareth A Davies remarked, “They’re both undefeated and masters at what they do. They possess different styles. Bivol is technically efficient, but there are some doubts about his power following his last match with Lyndon Arthur.” He added, “We’re talking about Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.”
Regarding Bivol’s punching capabilities, it is noted that while he is a combination puncher, he may not possess the power to engage in a direct exchange with Beterbiev, as he has not secured a knockout victory since his 2018 bout against Sullivan Barrera.
Gareth also highlighted the anticipated dynamics of the fight, stating, “People are very divided on who will win. This is one of the big fights in boxing, but the good thing about this fight is that it wouldn’t get much attention without the promotion of the Saudi. I think it’s guaranteed.”
He further discussed the willingness of both fighters to engage in the bout, stating, “Beterbiev says almost nothing. He wants the Bivol fight. I think it will be available in Saudi Arabia in June or July. I think they’re continuing to fight. It’s great.”
Gareth also mentioned the financial aspect of the fight, noting, “Everyone talks about him being ready for life, which is great. I know he got a decent purse Saturday night. I know he got millions of dollars for the Muhammad Ali trophy he played against George Groves in the Middle East five years ago. It’s probably not his biggest wallet because he knows what he’s done. He may feel he’s done enough.”
