Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev will square off for the pinnacle of boxing on February 22nd – the undisputed crown, and, with such a close fight last time round, it’s anyone’s to win.
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 tops the bill of what is potentially the biggest card in boxing to date.
Headlining the Saudi event, the light-heavyweight stars are ready to cement their legacy as champions, with their first fight ending in a razor-thin decision victory for Beterbiev, both fighters will seek to prove themselves on the big stage again.
Bivol is the only man to hear the final bell against Beterbiev, ending a 20-fight-long KO streak. Beterbiev admits he does not like punching people despite this being his job.
Boxing legends and champions share their thoughts ahead of Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev 2
The boxing world is waiting with bated breath to find out who will come out on top in the battle of the two great light-heavyweights, with many sharing their opinions ahead of the event.
Shakur Stevenson weighed in: “Revenge. I think Bivol. I think all he had to do was just finish a little bit stronger.”
Stevenson is not the only one to back Bivol in the fight, with Frazer Clarke stating: “I think that Bivol has got the brain and the toughness to turn that job over, I really do.”
One man who’s backing Beterbiev is Hamzah Sheeraz, who admits he won’t pray to beat Adames, as he does not want an ‘unfair advantage’. Sheeraz said: “Repeat. And a more convincing repeat this time.”
Despite winning the first fight, Beterbiev is the less favorable pick amongst many boxers, with Jack Catterall suggesting: “They’ll go straight into it, round thirteen, but I fancy Bivol.”
Former champion, George Groves also backed the 23-1 fighter: “I reckon close again, Bivol beats him.”
In a more thorough prediction, Tony Bellew, one of many to criticize co-main fighter Daniel Dubois, shares his views on the fight with DAZN:
“Once again it’s going to be a closely fought fight, but I just think Bivol can improve that little bit more,”
“Beterbiev is a few months older and there’ll be more miles on the clock from their first fight. Beterbiev might think he can start quicker and see it out again, but it’ll be hard for him to fight at a fast pace so quick after their first fight.”
“A part of Bivol will think he should’ve had his hand raised in their first fight and the improvements he needs to make are only small. It’ll likely be close again, but I just think Bivol will be the fresher man.”
Joe Cordina also backs Bivol to win, though acknowledges Beterbiev was the rightful winner in their first encounter: “A lot of people thought [Bivol] won. I personally didn’t, I thought maybe one round to Beterbiev. But I think it’ll be a comfortable win for Bivol this time round.”
When asked for his prediction, Canelo Alvarez kept his cards close to his chest, suggesting it would be a great fight. He was then asked if he would return to the light-heavyweight division, to which he replied: “Maybe.”
Beterbiev has squashed rumors he would ever fight Canelo.
Potential challenger for the winner, David Benavidez, believed “Bivol won most of the rounds, controlled most of the rounds” and will win the rematch.
Dmitry Bivol speaks on strange training technique ahead of Artur Beterbiev clash
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his clash with Beterbiev, Bivol reacted to a video he had posted to social media, which showed the Russian catching flies out of the air.
He said: “I had a run. This time, I remember, it was between my fights I was just having a run, and then I saw a place where you can do shadow boxing and I just wanted to catch some flies.”
This is testament to Bivol’s fast reactions and quick hand speed.
Bivol and Beterbiev top the bill on February 22nd, with Joseph Parker, who recently opened up about depression, taking on Daniel Dubois in a bid to become two-time heavyweight world champion.
Also on the card, Callum Smith takes on Joshua Buatsi to determine who may next challenge the light-heavyweight winner. Smith has admitted he believes George Groves was a better opponent than Buatsi will be.
Zhilei Zhang, who nearly died after the Jerry Forrest fight, also fights on the card against rising challenger Agit Kabayel.
The card will prove to be one of the biggest in modern boxing, and is sure not to disappoint.