Per Gary Cromie: Under the glittering desert skies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to clash once again on February 22, 2025. The rematch, which should be the highlight of Turki Al-Sheikh's hit card in Riyadh, carries the weight of unfinished business.
In a city where ancient traditions meet modern luxury, where one-humped camels and Ferraris share a face, the stage is set for a titanic battle of wills and skills. Their first meeting in 2024 was a brutal chess match, with Beterbiev making the decision to retain his unique light heavyweight titles and claim Bivolo's WBA belt, becoming the undisputed champion at 175 pounds. Now, with both looking to cement their legacy, this rematch promises to be a spectacle of skill, power and tactical brilliance.
First fight: Why Beterbiev won
In their initial clash, Beterbiev's relentless pressure and devastating power proved to be the deciding factors. The fight was a classic contrast of styles: Beterbiev, a large plasterer who is light on his feet, against Bivolo, a maestro who plays with a stick and a move with a beautiful rhythm. Bivolo's striking and footwork allowed him to control large portions of the fight, but Beterbiev's ability to close distance and land punches, particularly to the body, wore down Bivolo as the rounds progressed.
The key moments in the first fight are:
- Exchanges in the middle of the circle: Beterbiev's close range hooks and uppercuts began to sap Bivol's energy by the championship rounds.
- Power differential: While Bivol landed clean punches, his punches didn't have enough power to keep Beterbiev at bay.
- Pressure and rhythm: Beterbiev's relentless forward movement forced Bivol to fight off the back foot more than he was used to, limiting his attacking output.
In the end, the judges awarded Beterbiev a close decision, with many hard-fought rounds. Fans in boxing chatrooms debated for days who won the fight, but eventually the uproar died down. However, no fight recap would be complete without mentioning Eddie Hearn's epic meltdown. Never one to miss an opportunity to appeal, Hearn labeled the result a “robbery” to any idiot standing around holding a microphone. His merciless tirade was as amusing as it was undignified, especially when contrasted with Bivolo's calm class. Bivol, tight-lipped afterward, admitted he should have done more to win the fight. Meanwhile, a bizarre subplot involving Bivolo's wife, who publicly criticized him on YouTube while openly rooting for Beterbiev, added an awkward subplot to the proceedings. In the court of public opinion, both Eddie and Mrs. Bivol were second best, while Dmitry quietly absorbed the drama with his usual stoicism.
Backgrounds: from amateurs to professionals
Artur Beterbiev
- Age: 40 years
- Nationality: Russian (born in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia)
- Residence: Montreal, Canada
- Amateur record: 295-5, award-winning career that includes two gold medals at the World Championships.
- Professional record: 21-0 (20 KOs), known for his impressive knockout power.
- Style: Beterbiev's blend of pressure and power makes him one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. Despite his age, his physicality and ability to cut off the ring remain elite.
Dmitry Bivol
- Age: 34 years
- Nationality: Russian (born in Tokmak, Kyrgyzstan)
- Residence: St. Petersburg, Russia
- Amateur record: 268-15, highlighted by success in international tournaments and a disciplined, textbook approach.
- Professional record: 24-1 (11 KOs), characterized by technical precision and defensive mastery.
- Style: Buffalo is a master of distance and timing, using his striking and footwork to dictate the pace of his fights.
Adjustments for the second leg
What Beterbiev must do:
- Keep up the relentless pressure: Beterbiev needs to repeat the strategy that worked in the first fight by cutting off the ring and forcing Bivolo into exchanges where his power can make the difference.
- Focus on the body: In the first fight, body shots played a key role in slowing Buffalo down. Doubling down on this strategy could pay off in the second leg.
- Watch out for counters: Bivolo's sharp counters caused problems in the early rounds. Improved head movement and tighter defense will be key.
What Bivol must do:
- Increase output: Buffalo must throw more combinations and take risks to win points, especially in the later rounds, where he faded in the first fight.
- Control the distance: Using lateral movement and a consistent jab, Bivol must keep the fight at his desired range to neutralize Beterbiev's power.
- Aim for the head and movements: Exploiting Beterbiev's slower foot speed with precise combinations and spinning away from danger could turn the fight in Buffalo's favor.
Prediction: Who wins?
This fight remains as close to a 50-50 proposition as there is in boxing. Is a trilogy on the horizon? Both have the tools to win, but the winner will be the one who learned the most from their first encounter and can seamlessly make adjustments. Beterbiev's raw power and ability to press could overwhelm Bivol again if the latter fails to increase his work rate. Conversely, if Bivol can maintain his composure and increase his attacking output, his technical brilliance could be enough to overcome the older champion.
Prediction: Dmitry Bivol by split decision. While Beterbiev's power remains a constant threat, Bivolo's youth, superior durability and refined game plan will likely tip the scales in his favor. Expect a grueling, fierce battle where the margin for error is very slim. For both, the stakes have never been higher. And, if you think I'm confident in this prediction, you'd have to be crazy.