The biggest fight in boxing is set to take place this weekend as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol put their belts on the line.
Eddie Hearn has already labelled Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol “the best fight in boxing” and it’s easy to see why.
Both fighters are undefeated, and the winner of this one will become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion in 25 years.
Boxing always struggled to give us the best fights at the right time, and this is another one. It’s a few years too late. Nonetheless, the two undefeated Russian fighters are putting their belts and reputations on the line in the end.
In the preview, we’d normally highlight trash talk or overzealous predictions of a knockout, but not this time. Neither fighter engages in this part of the fight game.
“Just business” – Bivol
“I’ve never done trash talk in my career and don’t want to start now.” – Beterbiev
This is boxing in its purest form and should produce the sort of fight that leaves sweet scientists and casual fans satisfied.
Artur Beterbiev
Age: 39
Height: 5’11 ½”
Reach: 73”
Record: 20-0 KO: 20 (100%)
Artur Beterbiev is considered the most dangerous punchers in the game. Currently 20-0, the Russian is the WBC, IBF and WBO champion with all 20 of those wins coming via knockout. Try as they might, nobody has gone the distance with Beterbiev.
Callum Johnson had never been knocked down throughout his 30-fight career, but Beterbiev dropped him twice on his way to victory in his last fight.
Beterbiev 🇷🇺 v Smith 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/dFrXkrv2sD
— jb 🥊 (@BoxingJb) August 13, 2024
Beterbiev gets the better of his opponents in the end through his constant aggression. He mauls his oppontens, particularly at short distance. Even against the taller and longer Johnson, Beterbiev was able to double up his jabs. Powerful jabs. He conditioned Smith’s high guard to drop it to the body by masking his entries and exits. The double jab was particularly effective.
He likes to load his right hand behind those jabs in close exchanges and will no doubt employ a similarly aggressive approach against Bivol at Riyadh as a $2.20 underdog. However, despite knocking out all of his opponents to date, Beterbiev is a $2.65 outsider to do the same to Bivol.
Dmitry Bivol
Age: 33
Height: 6’0”
Reach: 72”
Record: 23-0 KO: 12 (52%)
Dmitry Bivol is one of the most sound fighters in boxing.
He really made his rise to prominance with his win over Saul Alvarez in May 2022. You could only sit back and marvel at the upset as it happened. Bivol constantly beat Alvarez to the punch throughout the unanimous decision victory that shocked the boxing world.
😮💨 Dmitry Bivol was just FAR TOO MUCH for Canelo Alvarez..pic.twitter.com/332x12tyOS
— EverythingBoxing | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) October 7, 2024
He’s since beaten the previously undefeated Gilberto Ramirez, Lyndon Arthur and Malik Zinad while making a living through Riyadh waiting for this fight.
He isn’t the most exciting fighter in boxing and doesn’t pack the hardest punch. The man himself can’t tell you why he’s so good.
“I don’t know why I’m one of the best.”
But anything Bivol does do, he does at an elite level. He is the more technical figher of the two in this one. Where Beterbiev has the power, Bivol has precision. His jab is straight out of the top draw and he uses it to break down his opponents and open up opportunities for bigger shots. His footwork is incredible, and it’s with his feet where Bivol’s defensive prowess makes him the $1.72 favourite in this one.
Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol Boxing Tips
Here we have two undefeated world champions.
Every belt is on the line.
Beterbiev is never out of a fight. His knockout power and the regularity in which he ends fights means he could be 11-0 behind going into the 12th and still be a chance of winning. However, Beterbiev is older, injury prone and coming off an injury after delaying the fight earlier in the year.
Beterbiev is incredibly skilled offensively but not at the same level defensively. He needs to get inside which might be something to consider with the knee injury he’s returning from. Bivol is the best fighter Beterbiev has fought, too.
Bivol’s superior footwork should allow him to control the distance and reduce Beterbiev’s chances of landing the power punch. His footwork and hand management has seen him rarely hit with power punches to date.
Bivol will get hit at some stage. Everybody who fights Beterbiev does in the end. However, unless he’s put down with a single punch, Bivol’s technical advantage and defensive ability should secure victory by the end. He doesn’t win many by knockout and Beterbiev has a strong chin, so Bivol win by decision is the play.
Bet Now Bivol by Points or Decision @ $2.20
Eubank Jr. v Szeremeta & Opetaia v Massey
Elsewhere on the Beterbiev v Bivol card, Chris Eubank Jr. takes on Kamil Szeremeta while Jai Opetaia defends his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles against Jack Massey.
Now 36-years old and 36 fights into his boxing career, Eubank Jr. is still consistently introduced as the “son of former world champion Chris Eubank.”
That just about sums up his stalling career that is into its latest reboot. He hasn’t fought since avenging his loss to Liam Smith 13 months ago and has picked out a Polish fighter who has retired on his stool twice since 2020.
Chris Eubank Jr. is constantly looking to grab headlines.
pic.twitter.com/RvhqARV0SG— Houseofws (@Houseofws_) October 9, 2024
Eubank is a heavy $1.04 favourite – too heavy. Szeremeta has experience in big fights against Gennadiy Golovkin and Jaime Munguiawill and will come forward if he can pick up an early round or two. As long as he’s moving forward, he’s a chance of causing a massive upset and is the value play at $13.
Opetaia is a similarly heavy favourite at $1.04, but deserves to be given his recent form. The Sydney-born fighter has dominated in his last two fights in Saudi Arabia and should win this one comfortably. Massey’s career has only recently been resurrected off a scaffolding site before he fought – and lost to – Joseph Parker.
It won’t be long before Opetaia rises to the heavyweight division and this feels like little more than a stepping stone for the best cruiserweight on the planet. Massey can frustrate him but only for so long. Opetaia’s power will get the better of him in the end.
Another Aussie in action, Skye Nicolson is looking to take the next step in her boxing career with a win over Raven Chapman ($5) as a $1.18 favourite. Doubted by many in the boxing world right now, a convincing win here will see them go quiet.