Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol is now only days away, with most boxing fans anticipating a fight-of-the-year contender between the two fearsome light heavyweight champions.
This Saturday, the pair will collide for the undisputed crown at 175 lbs, headlining one of the best fight cards of the year in Saudi Arabia.
At the age of 39, though, it is difficult to predict how much Artur Beterbiev, after amassing 20 knockouts in 20 victories, still has left in his tank.
Having said that, the unbeaten Russian’s assistant trainer, John Scully, firmly believes that his charge has what it takes to keep going into his 40s.
John Scully explains why Artur Beterbiev’s longevity is unique
Prior to his upcoming fight with Dmitry Bivol, Beterbiev was able to produce one of his most standout performances against former world champion Callum Smith.
In his usual, brutal fashion, the menacing puncher walked his man down, landing several thudding combinations, before destructively stopping the Brit in the seventh round.
And so, Beterbiev’s terrific surge, during what most would consider to be the twilight years of his career, has left many scratching their heads.
But his assistant trainer, as it happens, seems to know exactly how his fighter has performed at the peak of his powers for so many years.
“With Artur, his mentality is so strong in the ring and out of the ring. I don’t want to say he can go forever, but I don’t think of his age,” Scully told BoxingScene.
“People [have] said, ‘Oh, what’s he going to do? Is he going to retire after this fight?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t think so.’ I don’t see any reason for him to retire.
“After the fight with Callum Smith [in January, eight days before Beterbiev turned 39], I told Artur, ‘That’s the best you ever looked.’ How many people can say that at 38?”
DAZN presenter reveals unbelievable result of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol vote
While Scully is convinced that his man has both the mental and physical durability to overcome Bivol, there is a significant number of fans who would argue a vastly different view.
To prove this point, DAZN presenter Ade Oladipo has shared the result of a poll, which received over 1,000 votes, on his social media.
Astonishingly, boxing fans have seemingly remained divided in their pre-fight assessment, with Bivol and Beterbiev receiving an equal share of the vote.
But, then again, a 50/50 split is perhaps the most apt reflection of this particular matchup.