History will be made this Saturday as WBC, WBO, and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev will meet WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol in Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a high stakes light heavyweight matchup to determine the first ever undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
The odds have been pretty much dead even since lines opened across different sportsbooks and no one should be surprised by that. Both have been dominant in the division and have been heading towards a collision with one another for quite some time. It is a shame it took this long as Beterbiev is nearing 40 years old with some wear and tear on his body but the fact it is still happening is fascinating enough for boxing fans around the globe.
I am ultimately leaning Bivol here due to his footwork and ability to neutralize what his opponents try to implement. The WBA (and IBO) champion’s jab, pace, and talent with gauging distance is second-to-none. It does not come with risk though as Beterbiev is just an assassin inside the ropes. 100% of his wins come by finish as his hands might be made of cinderblocks. You truly feel every punch he throws. He does his best work when he can move forward and put his opponents against the ropes – relentlessly throwing combinations to the head and body looking for the most damaging shots he can land. His pace is truly relentless and he does not stop coming forward.
One of the biggest concerns with Bivol here is how he will handle the power of Beterbiev if he gets caught clean. I expect him to get hit but the question mark is if he can take it and stick to his game plan. Bivol is not the biggest power puncher and relies on economical punches to wear down his opponents over the course of the fight. Beterbiev’s big power punches will always be available to him so Bivol will need to be cautious from beginning to end.
The injuries Beterbiev has dealt with over the last several years and his 40th birthday coming up in January does raise some eyebrows. The fight was originally slated for June but a knee injury in May caused Beterbiev to step out for surgery due to a torn meniscus. Beterbiev still looked very good in his January fight against Callum Smith but, you just never know when one day he will not look like his usual self and look slower and aged.
Whether you choose to back Beterbiev or Bivol I cannot criticize either way as it is one of the most dead even 50-50 fights we will get in boxing.
Bet selection: Dmitry Bivol (-120)
Thanks for reading and best of luck!
