Jai Opetaia Explains How Bivol Can Defeat Artur Beterbiev

Jai Opetaia says Dmitry Bivol can beat Artur Beterbiev by using movement, angles, and staying at range on Saturday night in Riyadh. The fight will be shown live on ESPN+, which is non-PPV.

(Photo credit: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry)

IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia is a big fan of WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol’s fighting style, as he feels it’s a style that is similar to his own.

Opetaia thinks it’s best for Bivol to stay out of range of Beterbiev’s punches for him to win because there’s too much risk if he stands in front of the big three-belt 175-lb champion Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs).

“Bivol has got to move, cut angles, and keep him at his range,” said Jai Opetaia to Fight Hub TV about what Dmitry Bivol must do to defeat Artur Beterbiev. “Beterbiev has got to do the complete opposite: walk him down and try to clip him.”

Bivol likes to let his hands go, and it’s going to be too hard for him to resist not going on the attack against Beterbiev. If Bivol has success early, he’ll want to continue attacking because that’s his style. He’s too old to change at 33.

“He’s got to apply smart pressure and find that punch. He always does. He has a 100% knockout ratio,” Opetaia on what Beterbiev must do for him to be victorious. “He knows what he’s doing. He knows his way around the ring and how to cut people off and find that punch. It’s a very exciting fight.”

If Beterbiev just waits for Bivol to attack him all night, that won’t work because he won’t get enough opportunities to land his shots to get the knockout he needs to guarantee victory. If it goes to the scorecards, Bivol’s chances of winning will be high.

“I think if it goes to the scorecards, Bivol wins, but Beterbiev is such a dangerous fighter. As long as he [Bivol] doesn’t get clipped and in trouble, I think Bivol wins on points,” said Opetaia.

What Jai is saying is no different than almost anyone. Bivol will have his hand raised it goes the distance, because he’s got the better boxing skills, speed and he throws more shots.

“I don’t know. It’s up to Turki Alalshikh, His Excellency. He pulls all the strings, and whoever he wants me to fight, I’ll fight,” said Opetaia when asked if he’d be interested in fighting the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight. “I’m focused on the 12th. I’ve got a hard fight ahead of us, and then we can move forward.”