Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will fight for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship on October 12. The bout will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Riyadh Season show.
The winner will become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion since Roy Jones Jr. held the title. Fans and analysts consider this match-up one of the most competitive in boxing, with opinions split on who will come out on top.
Beterbiev brings ferocious power to the ring. He's knocked out every opponent he's faced so far, making him one of the most dangerous punchers in the weight class's history. But he's not invincible - he's been knocked down before.
On the other side, Bivol is known for his calculated and composed boxing style. He's got great skills, footwork, and can pack a punch too. However, he's only stopped one opponent in his last ten fights.
The fight has been a long time coming. It was postponed earlier due to a training injury Beterbiev suffered, adding to the anticipation.
Roy Jones Jr., the last man to hold the undisputed title at light-heavyweight, shared his thoughts on the fight. He favors Bivol but acknowledges the ever-present danger of Beterbiev's power.
I think Bivol has the better chances going in because he's more of a boxer who also can punch, but Beterbiev is one of the best punchers we're probably ever gonna see for his weight class. So he's always dangerous, but he's been down a few times too … If Bivol can use his feet to avoid the power for the first three, four rounds, Bivol should win the fight. But if he gets caught, you don't know, cause I ain't never seen him get caught by a guy who punches with the velocity that Artur punches with.
Jones stressed the importance of Bivol's footwork and patience in the early rounds. He believes if Bivol can avoid Beterbiev's power initially, he stands a good chance of winning.
The fight promises to be a classic clash of styles. Beterbiev's devastating power against Bivol's technical boxing skills will make for an exciting match-up. Boxing fans around the world will be eager to see who emerges as the undisputed champion on October 12.
