In our humble opinion, Bivol vs. Beterbiev has the potential to be the fight of the year. These two guys were so dominant up to this point in their respective careers that the upcoming spectacle guarantees a memorable battle.
Right now the odds are more or less close, with Bivol being a slight favorite in this event. For more odds about the Bivol vs. Beterbiev match, check this link.
Bivol vs. Beterbiev Preview
Dmitry Bivol is a classic example of the Soviet boxing school. He is very smooth in the ring, with fluid movement, frequent jabbing, and punching from everywhere. Besides all this, Bivol is very powerful, which gives him an edge over his rivals, and we’ve seen that this combination of strength and technique easily hurts the very best boxers in this division. After all, Canelo Alvarez was one of his victims. His most recent bout saw a raw domination over Malik Zinad, with the match ending in the sixth round.
Standing at 6 feet with a 72-inch reach, Bivol has everything one champion needs in terms of physique. But also, his discipline and his tactical knowledge are at a very high level. That’s why many consider the Kyrgystany-Russian boxer one of the top pound-for-pound guys in the sport.
THAT wrist exercise 🤯#BeterbievBivol | Saturday | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/TMlldQZ46r
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 9, 2024
In 2022, Bivol was named the Ring “Fighter of the Year.” He currently has 23 wins without a single loss and has 12 victories via KO, while 11 took place following a decision. Among other names, his previous rivals were Lynton Arhtur, Gilberto Ramirez, Umar Salamov, etc.
Meanwhile, Artur Beterbiev is 39 and six years older than his rival. And he has several more belts than Bivol. He claimed the IBF title in late 2017 and further unified the division by adding the WBC and WBO belts in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Unlike the rival, Beterbiev isn’t keen on simply winning via decisions, yet likes to rip the rivals apart and finish them as soon as possible. It’s the reason why he holds a record of 20 wins in 20 appearances, all 20 via KO.
Although he hasn’t faced the likes of Canelo or Ramirez, his victories over fearsome opponents like Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Lyndon Arthur, Joe Smith Jr., Marcus Browne, and most recently, Callum Smith in January this year, when he sent the Brit to the floor in the seventh round, are impressive.
We don’t need to explain his style in the ring very much. Like Bivol, he is strong, though we believe he is slightly less technical than his rival. On the other hand, he is a stronger puncher, with much higher power in his fists. Beterbiev is a demanding opponent who keeps coming after his adversary throughout the entire fight.
Bivol vs. Beterbiev Prediction
Bivol’s favorite role is awarded to him due to previous performances, which tested his tactical approach in the ring. Beterbiev, on the other hand, was simply too strong for all of his rivals and didn’t have to adapt that much to the circumstances during the fight. What we believe here would happen is a fight going to the distance. The odds aren’t as high as we would love, but then, the risk for this pick is far lower than for any other.
The bout can go either way in terms of who wins it. That’s why we don’t want to bet on that, yet on the contest reaching the final belt.
