In a training clip for WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, he focuses on throwing straight punches in preparation for his undisputed bout with three-time champion Artur Beterbiev on October 12 in Riyadh.
Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) will risk a fight against the heavyweight Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) by throwing hooks to the head and body in their headliner at the Kingdom Arena.
Beterbiev’s last opponent, Callum Smith, tried to hook him, a tactic that failed miserably. Beterbiev broke him quickly, scoring a seventh-round knockout. Bivol and his training team have obviously been studying Beterbiev’s fights and want to avoid the mistakes made by his previous opponents.
It will be difficult for Bivol to win if he gets up and beats Beterbiev in this fight because he doesn’t have the strength or the chin to hold on under those fight conditions.
Bivol’s best option is to use the hit-and-move method he used to defeat Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez in 2022. That was two years ago, and Bivol is not as light on his feet as he was then. He looks like he’s clearly grown up, and that could be one of the reasons he’s not moving now.
“I’m ready now, I’m looking forward to October 12. I’m ready to fight,” said Dmitry Bivol speaking to DAZN Boxing on X, informing fans that he’s ready for his match with Artur Beterbiev in Riyadh.
Beterbiev, 39, looked furious during the event and appeared ready to take Bivol apart. He is not happy that he had to wait seven years to face Bivol, as he wanted this fight in 2017.
Some fans believe that Bivol deliberately dragged Beterbiev to age to increase his chances of success because if they had fought years ago, he would not have matched him.
“Ready to fight” 💪 @bivol_d #BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, live on DAZN | 🎥 @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/kmHJFR7cYG
– DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 1, 2024
