Andre Ward thinks Dmitry Bivol is making a mistake by brazenly revealing that Artur Beterbiev’s punches had been affecting him, even when he blocked them on his gloves.
The previous two-division world champion Ward feels that Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) must be tight-lipped about his weaknesses as a result of potential of a rematch with undisputed mild heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) in 2025.
Bivol misplaced a 12-round majority choice to Beterbiev final Saturday night time on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh. It was a detailed combat, however Beterbiev pulled it out within the second half of the competition together with his strain and power-punching.
Some followers felt that Bivol deserved the win, saying he outboxed Beterbiev and did a wonderful job of blocking his punches or making him miss. Bivol was blocking photographs, however the punches had been nonetheless doing harm to his face.
Bivol Slowed Down
Within the second half, Bivol misplaced vitality and wasn’t displaying a lot offense. It’s unclear what prompted that. It may have been one in all these elements:
– Physique punching
– Quick tempo
– Strain
– Energy
“You need to by no means concede this brazenly when there may be potential for a rematch. Hold that to your self! An excessive amount of speaking,” stated Andre Ward on X, reacting to Dmitry Bivol revealing that Artur Beterbiev’s punches had been coming by way of his gloves when he coated up.
It may not matter whether or not Bivol revealed what Beterbiev’s punches had been doing to him, as a result of it’s there to be seen within the video of the combat. Bivol may say nothing, and Beterbiev and his workforce will spot the impacts his punches had been having on him. It didn’t matter that Bivol was blocking many on his gloves. They had been nonetheless doing harm. The physique punching from Beterbiev appeared to have an actual impact on Bivol, carrying him down.
“He has very sturdy punches. [I felt] his proper hand even by way of my left. My thumb is swollen as a result of I used to be holding it on my head, and he was beating on my hand. I felt like my hand got here inside my head from the ability,” stated Bivol to BoxNation, speaking about Beterbiev.
“For the rematch, I believe Bivol goes to have a look at the primary combat and say, ‘I may be extra aggressive,’ as a result of when he was aggressive, he was carrying the day,” stated coach Stephen Edwards to MillCity Boxing about what Bivol will likely be considering going into the rematch with Beterbiev.
Bivol must try to be extra aggressive within the rematch as a result of he’s not going to be given a call if he’s simply jabbing Beterbiev and attempting to maintain away. He had success within the seventh spherical when he flurried on Beterbiev, however he obtained caught with a shot.
That modified the combat as a result of Bivol regarded weakened and cautious to let his palms go once more. However he’s going to must attempt as a result of he appeared to have Beterbiev near being stopped.
“The issue is, in case you get too aggressive, you run into one thing with that man [Beterbiev] as a result of he’s such a tough puncher,” stated Edwards. “So, you possibly can’t get too grasping. I believe the seventh spherical was a microcosm of the combat. Bivol was having an actual good spherical, he was getting off, and he obtained somewhat too grasping. Beterbiev hit him with one thing and dominated the remainder of the spherical.
“I believed Beterbiev gained the seventh spherical, however I may see that spherical was a degree of controversy. I believe Bivol will likely be extra aggressive, however I believe that’s what Beterbiev desires.
“I wouldn’t be stunned if Beterbiev stops him within the rematch as a result of the extra you open up, the extra probabilities you give him to hit you with one thing you don’t see,” stated Edwards.
Verify Bivol’s left hand 👀😳#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason
📸 @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/ZasIMdqaEl
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 13, 2024
