As if starting 20-20, winning 20 knockouts and three light heavyweight belts wasn’t enough, Artur Beterbiev announced Monday at a press conference that boxing’s major headliner His goal seems to be to set a world record for the number of words.
The brilliance of the press conference in London to officially introduce the participants in the fight for the undisputed 175-pound title, which will take place in Saudi Arabia on June 1st, is that Beterbiev was actually the deciding factor in the event. It set the atmosphere.
No words needed.
Action, Not Words: Beterbiev Says Little Ahead Of Bivol Clash https://t.co/tYcBH4bWdl
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 15, 2024
Beterbiev, 39, is considered the most destructive and ferocious fighter in the sport’s heavyweight division. He relies on his evil spirits and aggressive spirit to systematically defeat his opponents. They include former world champions Callum Smith and Joe Smith Jr., as well as Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who was found in the rubble. But Beterbiev will now meet with a fellow Russian who may represent his kryptonite.
Boxing Association world champion Dmitriy Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) has been named the Boxing Writers Association of America’s 2022 Fighter of the Year, bringing pound-for-pound title to Mexico and defeating Canelo. His crown was confirmed by taking away the title of Pound King. Alvarez. “Boxing is more about class, IQ, style and skill,” Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov said on stage, defending the fighter’s pedigree.
Bivol’s polished style belies his own strength, and frankly, if Alvarez were any other light heavyweight, he probably would have been knocked down by the barrage of punches Bivol threw in that fight in May 2022. It might have been. The official scorecard that night was 115-113 in favor of the Russian side, but few believed the game was that close, and many thought it was too close for the Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. I thought the cards were stacked and skewed by the preconceptions of who won the fight and that Vegas should win.
The press conference host described Bivol-Beterbiev as a fight between the world’s purest boxer and the world’s most destructive puncher. And Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn said what his fighter brought to this fight made it “one of the purest fights in the sport and the best fight in boxing.” insisted.
Hyperbole on the press conference stage can be a show-stopping exercise, but this one feels authentic. Beyond the implications of who could emerge as the undisputed champion, there is the question of who is waiting. Canelo? David Benavidez? Rematch? But the most important thing is who wins and how. Beterbiev’s promoter, Top Rank chairman Todd DuBoff, kept his position simple about why Beterbiev would win.
“I was a fan of this guy’s destruction and destruction,” DuBoff said. “My friends call me in the middle of a fight with him and ask, ‘Who is this monster?’
“Look at his work. No one can last 12 rounds with him.”
Despite the importance of Monday’s event in global pay-per-view sales (the fight will be streamed on ESPN pay-per-view in the United States), Beterbiev minimized it.
When asked what he thought when he saw Bivol sitting on stage with the WBA belt on his left, Beterbiev replied, “I see the belt again. I’m collecting (all the belts) and I need another one.” “Yes,” he answered.
When asked why it took so long for the former Russian amateur players to meet, Beterbiev said with a mischievous grin: “Ask him,” pointing to Bivol. Bivol responded that Beterbiev only wants to wrestle in matches sponsored by Top Rank.
Both fighters are joined by Saudi Arabia’s Turki, who helped finance the fight, which comes two weeks after the undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in Riyadh. He expressed his gratitude to His Excellency Aralsik.
“There was no one to challenge us to the fight, but now we have a gentleman who loves boxing and made it possible,” Bivol said.
When asked if he had a message he wanted to convey to Bivol before the match, Beterbiev remained silent again.
“He already knows,” Beterbiev said. Because of this, commentators on the press conference stream wondered if Beterbiev had ever beaten Bivol when they were active together as Russia’s “senior” and “junior” amateurs. Commentators wondered if Berterbiev had ever beaten or knocked Bivol down in these sessions.
Kornilov later told Boxing Scene that the two only participated in “training and collaboration.”
If Beterbiev is betting that the former Bivol is the same man he will now face as a 33-year-old pro, he has made a grave error in judgment.
“Dmitri’s boxing is on another level and has to be against this machine of destruction,” Hearn said. “But (Bivol) never got the recognition he deserved… He beat Canelo with absolute ease.” He has all the skills to turn this guy around, including footwork, ring IQ, and composure. “We have someone very special.”
Hearn said Kornilov had been saying for six years that “we need Beterbiev“ and that the winner would be the “champion of the sport.”
“My goal was to become the undisputed champion… Canelo was my ticket to the big fight,” said Bivol, who has dedicated his life to the sport since he was five years old.
Asked about the serious threat Beterbiev poses, Bivol said: “Every time I train, I think my opponent is the most dangerous opponent I’ve ever faced in the ring.” Look at his file. But I love a challenge. I love being tested. And that’s a big challenge.
“I believe in my skill, my experience, my mentality (and) everyone is foolproof in (preparation) camp.”
Hahn then echoed the impression Beterbiev left on him by belittling his words and treating his young compatriots like apprentices who could not compete with their masters.
“I think (Beterbiev) is arrogant,” Hahn said. “We’re here to talk about fighting.”
Not doing so was perhaps Beterbiev’s message that he was used to things playing out his way. But as the 39-year-old Beterbiev prepares to face a top champion who wants to declare it’s time to become the latest self-proclaimed “king,” will he realize that Bivol also wants his crown?
“During the duel, I said to Dmitri, ‘Take me to school,'” Khan said. “Bivol” is something special. It’s going to be a tough battle. That’s the way it should be if you’re fighting for an undisputed championship.
“But Dmitrii is very special to speak in the ring.”
