By Declan Taylor
THE largest light-heavyweight battle of our era is right here and it one which has close to sufficient break up boxing followers down the center. Artur Beterbiev towards Dmitrii Bivol, who conflict in Riyadh on Saturday for all 4 175lb belts, looks as if a basic case of boxer vs puncher – however is it greater than that? We check out the place this showdown for the ages may very well be received and misplaced.
ARTUR BETERBIEV – KEYS TO VICTORY
POWER
No prizes for predicting that Beterbiev, a person with 20 wins and 20 knockouts, would possibly simply have the ability to win this one inside the space however when all is alleged and performed it’d simply be the truth that the unified WBC, WBO and IBF champion merely hit too onerous for Bivol to deal with. The worrying factor for WBA champion Bivol is that his opponent doesn’t even need to land clear to knock you out, and he can do it along with his left or proper hand, to go or physique. Dealing with him is nearly probably the most harmful activity in boxing proper now.
PRESSURE
Sure it’s the energy in his arms which takes folks out, however it’s his toes which pile the stress onto his opponents, draining their power and teeing them up completely to be put to sleep. Everyone knows how Bivol likes to field, on his toes, in-and-out, first-and-third, however will he have the ability to undertake that model with Beterbiev relentlessly strolling him down? That’s maybe a very powerful query on this complete showdown and foot stress may properly be key to a Beterbiev victory.
CHIN
Within the likes of Anthony Yarde, Callum Smith and Oleksandr Gvozdyk you may safely argue that Beterbiev has confronted a better calibre of light-heavyweight puncher in his time than Bivol has throughout his 23 fights. Sure, he was famously dropped by Callum Johnson within the second spherical of their 2018 encounter however he roared again to win two rounds later. Bivol has by no means been an enormous puncher and if he can’t get Beterbiev’s respect by touchdown one thing early, the 39-year-old would possibly again his chin and stroll by way of all the pieces coming his method.
DMITRII BIVOL – KEYS TO VICTORY
STYLE
When you needed to choose one boxer on the planet with the model to actually nullify a puncher like Beterbiev, you’d most likely land on Bivol. Sure, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez isn’t Beterbiev, isn’t as massive, sturdy or highly effective as him, however most individuals picked the Mexican forward of their 2022 battle and Bivol merely caught to his boxing, stored issues lengthy and stayed out of a firefight – and made lots of people look very foolish. It was extra of the identical towards Gilberto Ramirez six months later, too. Who’s to say he isn’t skilful sufficient to do the identical factor right here, preserve issues tight for 12 rounds and outbox an ageing Beterbiev? Stranger issues have occurred.
ENGINE
Beterbiev has by no means gone the space as a result of he punches too onerous for anybody to make it – however the truth is, he has nonetheless by no means gone the space. Enrico Koelling took him to the twelfth earlier than ultimately succumbing with simply 27 seconds left on the clock however that was seven years in the past. Though he has seen the tenth twice in his eight fights since, this isn’t a person accustomed to the championship rounds. Bivol, in the meantime, has no downside doing all 12, and perhaps he can take over as soon as he makes it to the midway stage and outwork a pissed off Beterbiev.
YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE
Bivol isn’t any spring rooster at 33 however it is a man who appears to be in his prime and on the peak of his powers. Beterbiev, then again, is 39 now and needed to postpone his battle with Smith as a result of a dental downside whereas the preliminary date with Bivol was rescheduled as a result of a ruptured meniscus. Maybe he’s a person in decline with a physique merely struggling to deal with practically a complete lifetime of combating. Bivol has proven no such indicators and seems to be getting higher as he approaches his mid 30s. In such an evenly-matched battle, that would properly be an element.