Undefeated light heavyweights Artur Beterbiev 20-0 (20) and Dmitry Bivol 22-0 (11) will meet in four-belt unification clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1.
The bout presents an intriguing contrast of styles. Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev, 39, has arguably the heaviest hands in all of boxing. The 33-year-old Bivol – who was born in Kyrgyzstan, holds Russian citizenship and boxes out of Indio, California – is a master boxer adept at control range and dictating exchanges.
Both fighters will enter the ring with hardware around their waists. Beterbiev won the vacant IBF belt with a 12th round knockout of Enrico Koelling in November 2017 before lifting the WBC strap from then-undefeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk via 10th round knockout two years later. He completed the trifecta with a second round knockout of Joe Smith Jr to claim the WBO bauble in June 2022.
Bivol is no slouch either. After winning the WBA interim title against Felix Valera on point in May 2016, he was upgraded to WBA ‘regular’ titleholder the following year and eventually earned full championship status for the Panama-based sanctioning body.
Two years ago Bivol proved his class by defeating reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) by unanimous decision. All three judges awarded him the fight seven round to five, which seemed exceedingly generous to the 33-year-old Mexican superstar.
Beterbiev vs Bivol is one of the most anticipated fights in the boxing. The winner of the bout will also be crowned The Ring magazine world champion at 175-pounds. Beterbiev is ranked number one by the esteemed publication while Bivol is number two.
Bivol’s strength and conditioning coach Taylor Ramsdell says that despite his boxer’s obvious lack of punching power, he is surprisingly strong.
“Bivol is a strong fighter, and he stays strong from start to finish,” Ramsdell told ProBox TV.
“Bivol’s skill level is amazing and he’s intelligent with his boxing. Always in the moment, while also seeing several steps ahead. He’s great at what he does and it shows in all of his fights.”
“Both these fighters are well-rounded. There’s a lot to both of them. We’ve had the answers to every opponent Bivol has faced, and we will for this one too
“We’ve been working towards the goal of becoming undisputed. Winning this fight will make it happen. I believe Bivol’s hand will be raised in victory and that goal will be achieved.”
The Ring ranks Beterbiev the number five boxer in the world pound-for-pound. Bivol sits at number six by the same publication. The winner will likely be elevated in the rankings.
Unification fights have thankfully come back into vogue in recent years. Alvarez holds all four belts in the 168-pound weight class, as does Naoya Inoue at bantamweight. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will clash for all the gold in Saudi Arabia on May 18.