Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are getting ready for a big fight on October 12. The winner will become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion since Roy Jones Jr held all the belts.
Beterbiev brings an impressive record to the ring. He's won all 21 of his fights by knockout. At 39 years old, he last fought in January 2023, stopping Callum Smith in the seventh round.
Bivol, on the other hand, has been more active recently. He knocked out Malik Zinad in June 2023 and won a decision against Lyndon Arthur in December. Bivol's known for controlling the distance, pace, and flow of his fights.
The fight was supposed to happen on June 1, but Beterbiev ruptured his meniscus in training, forcing a postponement. It's not clear how well he's recovered from that injury.
Former world champion Shawn Porter shared his thoughts on the fight in a recent podcast. He thinks Bivol will come out on top:
"Artur Beterbiev is going to take a lot of punches like he always does and I don't think he can catch up to Dmitry Bivol. Nope [he can't drag Bivol into a fight]. Too damn disciplined. Too much lateral movement. Too intuitive. Good boxer."
Porter believes Bivol's boxing skills will shine through. He points out that Beterbiev often takes many punches and might struggle to keep up with Bivol's movement and discipline.
The fight on October 12 will show if Porter's prediction is right. Will Beterbiev's knockout power prevail, or will Bivol's control of the ring lead him to victory? Either way, we'll see a new undisputed champion crowned in the light-heavyweight division.