Bivol Focusing On Straight Punches, “Ready” For Beterbiev

In a training clip for WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, he’s focusing on throwing straight punches in combination in preparations for his undisputed contest against three-belt champ Artur Beterbiev on October 12th in Riyadh.

Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) would be putting himself at risk of being countered by the heavy-handed Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) by throwing hooks to the head and body in their headliner at the Kingdom Arena.

Beterbiev’s last opponent, Callum Smith, attempted to hit him with hooks, and that strategy failed badly. Beterbiev broke him down quickly, scoring a seventh-round knockout. Bivol and his training team have obviously been studying Beterbiev’s fights and want to avoid the mistakes that his past opponents made.

It’s going to be difficult for Bivol to win if he stands and punches Beterbiev in this fight because he doesn’t have the power or the chin to hold up under those kinds of battle conditions.

Bivol’s best option is to utilize the hit-and-move approach that he used to defeat Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez in 2022. That was two years ago, and Bivol isn’t quite as light on his feet as he was back then. He looks like he’s visibly aged, and that could be one reason he’s more stationary now.

“I’m ready now, looking forward to October 12th. I’m ready to fight,” said Dmitry Bivol to DAZN Boxing on X, letting fans know he’s prepared for his clash against Artur Beterbiev in Riyadh.

Beterbiev, 39, has looked angry throughout the promotion of the event and appears to be ready to take Bivol apart. He’s not happy that he’s had to wait seven years to face Bivol, as he wanted this fight in 2017.

Some fans believe that Bivol has purposefully dragged it out to age Beterbiev to increase his chances of success because if they had fought years ago, he would have been no match for him.

“Ready to fight” 💪 @bivol_d #BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, live on DAZN | 🎥 @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/kmHJFR7cYG

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 1, 2024