Joe Smith Jr. has shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Smith Jr. is the only boxer who's faced both men in the ring, giving him a unique perspective ...
Beterbiev, the unified champion holding the WBC, WBO, and IBF belts, has built a fearsome reputation. He's won all 20 of his professional fights by knockout, showing off his incredible punching power. In 2022, Beterbiev stopped Smith Jr. at Madison Square Garden, adding to his impressive record.
On the other hand, Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight champion, brings a different set of skills to the table. Smith Jr. describes him as a more rounded fighter with exceptional footwork, sharp reflexes, and quick movement. Bivol proved his worth a few years ago in a tight, technical contest against multi-weight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Speaking to FightHype.com on YouTube, Smith Jr. shared his experiences fighting both men. He found the Bivol fight tougher, even though he managed to catch Bivol at the end of a round. Smith Jr. noted Bivol's ability to recover and continue fighting effectively.
When discussing Beterbiev, Smith Jr. highlighted his accuracy and precision. He said:
"Beterbiev is very accurate with his punches. He hits you where he wants to."
Despite acknowledging that both fighters are highly skilled, Smith Jr. leans slightly towards Bivol in his prediction. He explained:
"I think Bivol might just edge it out. Bivol is an all-round fighter."
Smith Jr.'s prediction adds an interesting angle to the potential matchup. While Beterbiev's knockout power can't be ignored, Bivol's well-rounded skills might give him the edge in a closely contested fight.
The boxing world is waiting eagerly for this potential clash between two undefeated champions. Smith Jr. echoes this sentiment, saying he's looking forward to seeing both of them fight.
This matchup gets even more interesting considering Canelo Alvarez's recent comments. The multi-weight champion, who lost to Bivol, has mentioned he might move up in weight once more for a rematch with the Russian fighter. However, a Beterbiev-Bivol fight for undisputed status at light heavyweight would likely take precedence.
As fight fans, we can only hope this exciting matchup comes to fruition soon. It promises to be a clash of styles and a true test of skill versus power in the light heavyweight division.