Artur Beterbiev, the light-heavyweight champion, has his sights set on moving up to cruiserweight if he wins his upcoming fight. The Russian boxer faces fellow champion Dmitry Bivol this month in a battle for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown.
Beterbiev, known for his raw power and perfect knockout record, told Queensberry Promotions about his future plans:
"For this category I think this is the main goal, for this category. We'll see after. Challenges? Maybe different categories, go up. We'll see. I'm not focused on that [right now.]"
The 5'11" fighter will have his hands full against the undefeated Bivol, who's made a name for himself with calculated movement and boxing skills. It's a tough fight to call, with many seeing it as too close to predict.
If Beterbiev comes out on top, he'll need to pack on about 15 pounds to compete at cruiserweight. The jump brings new challenges: bigger opponents, more power, and fighters with longer reach.
The cruiserweight division has some tough customers at the top. Jai Opetaia holds the IBF belt, Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA, Noel Mikaelian the WBC, and Chris Billam-Smith the WBO. Ramirez and Billam-Smith are set to unify their titles on November 16, potentially setting up an even bigger fight down the line.
Bob Arum, Beterbiev's promoter, thinks a move up might be too much. He's especially worried about a potential matchup with the hard-hitting Opetaia, calling it "a step too far."
For now, Beterbiev's focus is squarely on Bivol and the chance to become undisputed champion. It's the fight of his life, and he'll need every ounce of that famous power to hand Bivol his first loss.
