The renowned boxer Dmitry Bivol recently shared in an interview with @FightHubTV his perspective on facing two of the most feared fighters today: Artur Beterbiev and Canelo Álvarez. During an interview, Bivol spoke about the emotions he experienced while preparing for a fight against Beterbiev and the comparison between the styles and punches of both fighters. His comments shed light on how he perceives the differences in technique and power between the two champions.
Bivol began by explaining how emotions can influence a fight, noting that many boxers who faced Canelo Álvarez allowed their emotions to take over. “A lot depends on your emotions,” he explained. For Bivol, emotions play a crucial role in a boxer’s performance, and he pointed out that if not properly controlled, they can prevent a fighter from reaching their full potential in the ring.
Describing his confrontation with Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol acknowledged that there was a certain aura around the Russian fighter, often described as a “monster” inside the ring. However, far from feeling intimidated, Bivol admitted he felt excited about the challenge of fighting someone of Beterbiev’s caliber. “I was excited, I was trying to use the right emotions about it,” he said. Despite Beterbiev’s intimidating image, Bivol felt prepared to face him and confident he could handle the pressure.
Regarding Beterbiev’s punching power, Bivol commented that while his punches were strong, they weren’t necessarily dangerous due to the force of a single blow but rather because of the accumulation of his combinations. Beterbiev, according to Dmitry Bivol, doesn’t rely on a single punch with all his energy, as Canelo does. Bivol pointed out that the Russian fighter opts for maintaining a steady rhythm in his combinations, unlike the Mexican, who puts all his power into individual punches.
“Just, uh, yeah, a hard punch, nothing else, you know. It’s not about one heavy punch and being very dangerous. No, it’s about how strong he is. It’s not just one punch; he’s trying to throw combinations. Every punch in the combination is heavy, yeah. You know, it’s not like with Canelo, where he puts all his energy and power into a single punch.”
When comparing Beterbiev to Canelo, Bivol commented, “Maybe Canelo’s single punch is harder sometimes, yeah, than Beterbiev’s.” Although surprising to many, Bivol explained that the difference lies in each fighter’s strategy. Canelo looks for the right distance to land a punch that concentrates all his energy, while Beterbiev is more compact in his fighting style.
“Because Beterbiev doesn’t do that. Beterbiev was more compact, with a tight guard. But if you ask them to throw five punches, every one of Beterbiev’s punches will be hard. With Canelo, maybe the first one is hard, but then not so much, yeah. Both of them are strong, but Beterbiev is bigger, and he was born strong, yeah. He’s just physically a bigger guy.”
Along those lines, Dmitry Bivol continued to explain the difference between Beterbiev and Canelo’s punches. He also analyzed and pointed out why he considers a single punch from Canelo to be stronger than one from Beterbiev.
“Yeah, because when Canelo lands his punch, he’s doing it from a distance, trying to put all his energy into it. Beterbiev is not doing this in the ring, but if we asked him to, maybe his punch would be harder. But he’s not using it,” Bivol explained.
Bivol also reflected on weight classes, highlighting that although Canelo is a “small 168,” his strength is still remarkable. “This shows that Canelo is a strong guy too,” Bivol stated, noting that both fighters have different but equally dangerous strengths.
Finally, when asked about his strategy when facing opponents like Beterbiev and Canelo, Bivol revealed that he draws inspiration from boxing legends such as Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. This reflects his technical approach and desire to use movement and intelligence in the ring, rather than relying solely on brute strength.
Dmitry Bivol’s career continues to attract attention in the boxing world, and his comparisons between Beterbiev and Canelo offer a unique insight into two of today’s most powerful champions. With admiration for past legends and the ability to manage emotions inside the ring, Bivol continues to demonstrate why he is one of the most respected boxers of his generation.
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