Just four months after their first high-class fight, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol duel again for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship. Who has the edge in the rematch? BOXSPORT does the check.
Some boxing matches are fought at such a high level that comparisons are often drawn with chess. The duel between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol last October was one such example. In their fight, the two world-class light heavyweights celebrated boxing at such an exquisite level that parallels could almost inevitably be drawn with the board game known as the “game of kings”. Foresight, strategic skill and maximum concentration, all important qualities in chess, were also evident in the fight for the undisputed world championship.
In the end, Artur Beterbiev won the exciting duel by a wafer-thin margin on points, although many observers saw Dmitry Bivol narrowly ahead. However, one thing quickly became clear: a rematch was needed to really clarify the situation. And this eagerly awaited rematch will take place on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Will Beterbiev be able to dispel all doubts this time and silence the critics? Or will Bivol take the victory that many believe he deserved in the first fight? We let both opponents step into the ring in advance in the BOXSPORT check and reveal who has the better cards in the rematch.
Experience
Both Bivol and Beterbiev were successful amateurs for many years before their professional careers. Both became Russian champions several times and were also able to celebrate international successes, with several hundred amateur fights between them. They also differ only marginally in terms of professional experience. Bivol, who is five years younger, switched to professional boxing a year later than Beterbiev, but still has three professional fights and four more world championship fights to his name.
The difference is only clear in the number of professional rounds boxed, where knockout machine Beterbiev has only 110. Only once, in the first duel between the two, did he have to go the full distance of twelve rounds. Bivol, on the other hand, has heard the final bell of a fight eleven times. Both have had to overcome critical moments, and not just in direct duels against each other. In 2019, for example, Bivol was in trouble in the final phase of his fight against Joe Smith Jr. after a hard hit. Beterbiev, on the other hand, was even briefly knocked out against Callum Johnson in 2018 and Jeff Page Jr. in 2014. There is no clear advantage here.
Fighting style
Stylistically, the two world-class light heavyweights differ significantly. Bivol is the more agile man, with boxing advantages and the better jab. On the other hand, Beterbiev has far more punching power, can exert enormous pressure and is also the more active man in the ring. This was evident, for example, in the fight statistics of the first fight, where the now 40-year-old fired 682 punches according to “Compubox”. Bivol, on the other hand, “only” landed 423, but shone with more precision and was able to set the tone time and again with clean counters.
Endurance
Before the fight in October, most people would have said that Bivol, who is five years younger, had the better stamina. After all, he is used to going twelve rounds, while Beterbiev has been able to beat every opponent early to date. But it was a different picture in the ring: In the final phase, it was the Canadian-by-choice Beterbiev who was able to step up and secure the most rounds. Bivol by no means collapsed and also landed some good shots, but found himself largely on the defensive. Beterbiev could have a slight advantage in this regard.
Tactics
Bivol put in a brilliant tactical performance, especially at the start of the first duel. The 34-year-old deliberately left the center of the ring to Beterbiev and played to his strengths from the outside. Defensively highly disciplined, he kept his opponent at a distance with an outstanding jab and punished Beterbiev’s attempted attacks with sharp counter punches. Beterbiev had problems cutting off Bivol’s path in the ring, especially in the early stages. A quality that normally characterizes the 40-year-old. However, as the fight progressed and not least thanks to good attacks to the body, Beterbiev was able to increase the pressure more and more and thus celebrate more success. Nevertheless, the impression remains that Bivol has more tactical options in his quiver for the rematch.
Bivol vs. Beterbiev II: Conclusion
One thing is also certain ahead of the rematch: Beterbiev vs. Bivol promises boxing at the very highest level, where nuances will be decisive. If Bivol starts in a similarly tactically disciplined manner, he can once again box his way to a lead against the almost classically weak Beterbiev. It will then depend on whether the Kyrgyz-born fighter can withstand the pressure from knockout monster Beterbiev. If Bivol can do that, especially in the final phase, he should be able to secure a clear points victory.
For the reigning world champion, however, it will be important to get into the fight better this time. Beterbiev once again needs a high work rate and must hardly give Bivol any breathing space. He could then perhaps even secure an early victory in the final third of the fight through attrition and hard punching. Many already saw Bivol ahead in the first fight. In the rematch, he will make the final adjustments in order to officially win on points this time.
Text by Benjamin Stroka