The year 2024 is already rich in “mega fights”. But the biggest one is probably just around the corner: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will fight for the world heavyweight championship in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening – a coronation that the boxing world has been waiting for for a long time.
“A mystical crown with the power to rule humanity.” What sounds like Hollywood, like JRR Tolkien, is just the trailer for a fistfight – possibly the fistfight of the year.
Two knights can be seen in the four and a half minute long glossy film from the Saudi organizers, silent warriors who eliminated opponents, killed bears and braved avalanches to finally become the undisputed king of the light heavyweight in the thinnest of all skies, at the pinnacle of high-performance sport to crown: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. The Lords of the Ring. Undefeated.
It’s a fight the boxing world has been coveting for a long time. On the one hand, Beterbiev, 39 years old, IBF world champion since 2017, who has also conquered the WBC and WBO world championship belts. The only champion in boxing with a knockout rate of 100 percent, but not a dull puncher, but an economical, precise punch mill that reliably pulverizes his opponents.
And on the other hand, Bivol, 33, the master boxer, sophisticated technician and Canelo Alvarez fright, also world champion in the limit of 79.379 kilograms since 2017, holder of the WBA scepter.
Boxing: Beterbiev and Bivol are no talkers
On October 12th the time has come: the chosen ones will meet in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh at the behest of “His Excellency” Turki Al-Sheikh (live on pay-per-view on DAZN). The Saudi boxing magnate has been making fights possible with his dollar bazooka for some time now, which for a long time seemed impossible in prize boxing.
“This will be a fight that will go down in history,” predicted Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn in advance and added – without exaggeration – “It’s the best fight you can do in boxing today.”
The sporting class of the rivals is so different that during the “build-up” of the event, the usual hustle and bustle was not necessary to spice up the duel accordingly.
Anyone who had hoped or expected pithy announcements from the champions was disappointed. Just as portrayed in the glossy trailer of the “Riyadh Season”, Beterbiev and Bivol are not men of big words, not show fighters, not foam thugs.
“I never make a prediction. What happens, happens. I’m focused on different details, on preparation to do good things,” Beterbiev said succinctly at a press conference in London. Having four belts means reaching the top of Olympus in prize boxing. “I want to win a fourth,” said the Russian who lives in Canada.
Beterbiev’s compatriot Bivol, who has lived in California for years, also emphasized how important the duel was in the autumn of his boxing life. “What the fight means to me? I’ve been boxing since I was six years old. I’ve sacrificed so much in my life. This is the final step. Have I done everything right or not?” mused the champion.
Beterbiev and Bivol are doing what Jones and Michalczewski never did
For the first time since Michael Spinks in the 1980s (unless the judges in Riyadh are in a draw mood) there will be one, completely undisputed king of the light heavyweights.
Certainly, superstar Roy Jones Jr. was always celebrated as the “Undisputed Champion” in the USA at the turn of the millennium, but never competed against the “linear” world champion Dariusz Michalczewski. The “Tiger”, who reached the top as WBA/WBO/IBF regent in 1997 after his victory over Virgil Hill, made himself comfortable in Europe, where he defended the WBO title, which was even less important at the time.
For a while in the second decade of the 21st century, it looked as if Sergey Kovalev could piece together the shattered crown. The “Krusher” from Russia unified the belts from the WBA, IBF and WBO. However, a duel with the no less powerful WBC champion Adonis Stevenson remained one of the many unfulfilled dreams of boxing fans.
Kovalev surprisingly lost the 2016 title to US star Andre Ward. The “Son of God” then preferred to retire from fistfighting instead of chasing the WBC crown.
In 2024, the fight between the best light heavyweights for the abandoned, abandoned, “mystical” crown will finally take place after all these years.
Beterbiev vs. Bivol: A fascinating duel
Beterbiev versus Bivol is a fascinating duel in every respect. Because Beterbiev has the sheer power to break an opponent at any time. Because Bivol has proven that he can outbox even an exceptional fighter like Canelo Alvarez with his premium technique. In short: Because the outcome of the fight is almost impossible to predict.
Age, freshness and pure boxing ability speak for Bivol. The WBA world champion was only in the ring on June 1st when he defeated Malik Zinda in six rounds. The blockbuster with Beterbiev should have taken place on that first day of June. But the WBC/WBO/IBF titleholder injured his meniscus during preparation and had to postpone the showdown and miss a few weeks.
Beterbiev assured that he was in top shape with a view to October 12th: “I always prepare 100 percent – half measures are not my thing.” What speaks for Mister 100 percent is the sheer power of his blows, which no opponent has yet been able to withstand, even though none of his opponents had Dmitry Bivol’s class. Who in turn has never faced a boxing experienced rival with the power of Artur Beterbiev.
Can Beterbiev also overpower Bivol and crush this magnificent example of noble self-government like 20 opponents before him? Or will Bivol’s supple legs circle around his rival in the usual manner and checkmate the WBA champion Beterbiev’s quick combinations? Who is the one, the chosen one? It’s time for the gong!
The text originally appeared in a slightly modified form in the October issue of the specialist magazine BOXSPORT, available in the BOXSPORT App.
Source: www.sport.de
