Many fans have labelled Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed light-heavyweight showdown against Dmitry Bivol as the biggest and most intriguing fight in boxing yet, despite the skill of both men, there will be plenty of eyes on the referee.
Artur Beterbiev remains as the only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio in the sport, scoring stoppage wins over the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith.
BETERBIEV KNOCKS OUT SMITH TO KEEP HIS STREAK ALIVE
20 fights | 20 wins | 20 knockouts pic.twitter.com/szEsSqpkZA
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) January 14, 2024
Meanwhile, Bivol has proven himself as a slick, hard-to-pin down operator by banking unanimous-decision victories against Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Nah Dmitry Bivol treated Canelo like a fly ?
Canelo was trying his hardest to hurt Bivol and Bivol doesn't get affected at all then just lands like 10+ punch combos against him ??? pic.twitter.com/Wqc5VTUdR6
— Jack Alter (@jackalter) October 4, 2024
With Beterbiev hoping to turn the contest into a war and Bivol aiming to put on a boxing clinic, the refereeing appointment was a major one as a more lenient one would benefit the aggressor and a stricter referee would be desired by a technician such as Bivol.
Likely to the delight of Bivol, the man in the middle has now been confirmed as Thomas Taylor, who oversaw Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title win over Danny Garcia and Jarrell Miller’s draw with Andy Ruiz on the Crawford-Madrimov bill back in August.
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However, whilst Beterbiev will be hopeful that Taylor will allow additional work on the inside and be less keen to break up the action, eyes will looking towards Taylor for more reasons than just his officiating.
Instead, Taylor will receive attention due to his attire, donning a pink shirt on the big stage as Riyadh Season and each of the four sanctioning bodies support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as confirmed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on social media.
All 4 organizations and Riyadh Season join #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth in #BeterbievBivol with the pink shirt of the referee. Early detection saves lives ! @ABeterbiev @bivol_d @WBCBoxing @RiyadhSeason @Queensberry @MatchroomBoxing
Don’t miss this great fight on @DAZNBoxing &… pic.twitter.com/ZZYMe43ts5— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) October 9, 2024
“All 4 organisations and Riyadh Season join #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth in #BeterbievBivol with the pink shirt of the referee. Early detection saves lives! @ABeterbiev @bivol_d @WBCBoxing @RiyadhSeason @Queensberry @MatchroomBoxing
Don’t miss this great fight on @DAZNBOxing @DisneyPlus presented by @Turki_alalshikh”
Taylor will be joined by Glenn Feldman, Manuel Oliver Palomo and Pawel Kardyni, who will each be scoring the contest outside of the ring when Beterbiev and Bivol collide on Saturday night, following a blockbuster undercard.
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