WBA champ Dmitry Bivol sizes up a potential rumble with the triple-crown king Artur Beterbiev as the biggest mountain he’s yet to climb in his boxing odyssey.
Chewing the fat on Matchroom Boxing’s ‘Flash Knockdown’ podcast, Bivol reminisced about his tussle with Lyndon Arthur in Saudi Arabia, eyeballed Beterbiev’s takedown of Callum Smith in Canada, and teased the boxing world with hints of a colossal showdown with his fellow Russian later this year.
Bivol, with an unblemished record of 22-0, 11 KOs, famously put a dent in Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s armor, handing the Mexican legend only his second defeat at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in May 2022. But now, the 33-year-old muses that locking horns with his countryman Beterbiev might just be the rougher ride.
“To be frank, it’s the Everest of tests,” Bivol quipped. “And why’s that? Because the guy’s a tank. More brawn than Canelo, coupled with a slick technique many gloss over because they’re too busy gawking at his brute force. The guy’s built like a rock, punches like a mule kicks, and carries a belief in himself as heavy as his fists. He’s not just a hulk; his amateur days have polished him. Watch his right hook to the body – it’s a thing of beauty. And strength, that’s his ace in the hole.
“We’re all flesh and blood, right? We’ve got our Achilles’ heels and our strong suits. Beterbiev’s no different. Saw a few chinks in his armor last time. My job? Simple. Cook up as many sticky situations for him as I can and sidestep any traps he lays for me. It’s not rocket science. Just do your job, and do it well. That’s how you win this game.”
Coming off a dominant victory over Britain’s Lyndon Arthur in the ‘Day of Reckoning’ event at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, Bivol might find himself back in Saudi sands for a dream clash with Beterbiev.
“I had the reins the whole 12 rounds last time. Felt great, breathed easy, stayed healthy. Barely a scratch on me. I’m raring to go again.”
Beterbiev, meanwhile, bulldozed Liverpool’s Callum Smith in a seven-round demolition at Quebec’s Videotron Centre, a display of raw power that left many awestruck. But Bivol? He’s cool as a cucumber, confident that his skill set is the perfect wrench to jam into the gears of the 39-year-old juggernaut.
“I had my eyes glued to his fight,” Bivol admitted. “Wasn’t bowled over, though. Beterbiev was Beterbiev – a powerhouse doing powerhouse things. Nothing out of the ordinary for him.
“He had Smith in his pocket from the get-go. No shockers there. I’ve always had a soft spot for the brainier side of boxing, the chess match behind the punches. Here’s hoping my brain can outdance his brawn. I’m all in to make that happen.”