Watching the two best fighters in the world is challenging against each other never loses his fascination.
This will be the case when on Saturday on Saturday, Live, Arthur Beterbiev Rungen Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed World Cup, live Sky Sports Box Office.
When they first met in October, the two were rival champions, both undefeated and no man ever approached the loss.
Bivol provided the Mexican superstar to Canela Alvarez a comprehensive defeat as well as overcoming the litany of other top class opponents. A professional initiator with extraordinary foot work, precise time and precise strict impact, was – and remains – the perfect foil for Beterbiev.
Beterbiev destroyed every professional opponent he confronted, but Bivol became the first man to take away his distance when they broke through during the 12 extraordinary rounds last year.
But the buffalo did not beat him. He lost the majority decision, which shared his mind and left his team of anger for the results.
“I still think he won. I felt for nine rounds, he completely dominated the fight,” said Eddie Hearn, Bivol -O’s promoter, said Sky Sports.
“Then he lost 10, 11, 12, which was a problem. He says he wasn’t 100 percent last time, which I like to hear. And if he is (this time), I think it will be a very difficult night for Beterbiev.
“I felt he had won last time. He had to do a little more and he had to get a crack of a whip with the judges.”
Beterbiev struggles with great frenzy. He closes his opponents, controls where they allow them to move and liberate the huge blows that descend with the power.
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Matthew Macklin rejects the claims that the majority decision of Arthur Beterbiev over the Dmitry buffalo was ‘robbery’ last October and hopes we will see the third fight between the two.
The buffalo went through his repertoire of skills in the first fight, but at the final stages, while the last circles were ticking, Beterbiev subjected him to a permanent attack. Some observers thought he did not win enough rounds as a whole – but there was no doubt how strong he ended up.
This week, in Riyadh, Beterbiev trained with an unrivaled intensity, until weighing for the competition. Even in the age of 40, he is in an excellent physical condition with the degree of focus, which today marks it as one of the largest active fighters in the world.
He has no doubt that he deserved the decision in the first fight and is quite willing to resolve someone else’s doubt for the second time.
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Dmitry Bivol says that he focused on a rematch and identified the improvement areas to succeed against Arthur Beterbiev.
“It was a good experience because I won,” Beterbiev said Sky Sports.
“I wasn’t bad,” he added, with a fundamental hint of threat. “I have to do more.
“I’ll show you.”
The buffalo itself is with good grace its first professional defeat. But he’s unwavering that he knows exactly what to do right now to beat his terrible rival.
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Anthony Yarde did not agree with a rating of 116 to 112 in the first fight for Beterbiev-Bivol, but he thought Beterbiev deserved to win.
“I felt I did a good job (in the first fight) but I wasn’t too happy,” Bivol said Sky Sports. “Nothing surprised me, I expected it (from him) and showed what he wanted.
“I always try to think that my opponent is the greatest opponent. He has a huge high level of speed, power, movement, everything, defense, beard – I try to think about him that something is unreal. And when you go in the ring against a man, you are not surprised.
“I think I know more (now), but we’ll see.
“I have to be better than I was before.”
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Gary Logan questioned the judges achieved by Arthur Beterbiev against the Dmitry Bivol after their first fight.
‘Everything in the Division in question’
Earlier on the same card, British Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith are fighting for their excellent heavy weight competition.
The winner of their struggle will hold a temporary WBO belt and be in the main position to cause the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol.
Liverpool Smith had previously shared a ring with Beterbiev and buffalo. A year ago, he lost a challenge for a world title in Beterbiev, and about 13 years ago Boxo Bivol in an international amateur fighting.
“I knew he was a good fighter at the time, quite similar to the way he struggles now, quite fluent,” Smith recalled from Bivol.
“He has achieved a lot and obviously Beterbiev is the same.”
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In directly after the first fight, Eddie Hearn was unwavering that Dmitry Bivol was supposed to win the decision against Arthur Beterbiev
Smith added: “Everyone goes on to Beterbia’s age, he cannot continue forever. I think the last fight was a difficult fight for both of them and it would be interesting to see how much it was taken out of him.
“I just think time goes on, you have to favor, I mean, (that) a buffalo could be so much fresher. But again, I think it will be strong again.
“It was the last time it was a very good struggle to hit and I think we’ll see it this time as well.”
The Buatsi wants to continue their undefeated running and sharp professionally observing Beterbiev-Bivol.
“I thought the buffalo won in the fight. Everything else is just my opinion,” Buatsi said Sky Sports. “Beterbiev received a decision on paper.
“I only had a buffalo,” he added. “It will be a good rematch.
“Everything in the division was at stake that night. So they deserve both. They got together, they did it and do it again.”
Arthur Beterbiev V Dmitry Bivol Resinch is live tonight on Sky Sports Box Office. Book immediately!
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2025-02-22 09:12:00
