WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is preparing for the toughest test of his career as he gears up for a legacy-defining undisputed title clash against unified title-holder Artur Beterbiev next month. Ahead of what is arguably the most salivating match-up remaining in the sport, light-heavyweight legend Roy Jones Jr. offered his verdict, and now Bivol has responded to those comments.
Bivol became champion back in 2017 when he was upgraded from interim champion to full world titlist following the retirement of Andre Ward, but the Russian proved himself to be worthy of such status as he made a successful first defence of the belt with a first-round knockout against Trent Broadhurst.
Since then, Bivol has not looked back, although the stoppage victories have become rarer, only ending a run of nine consecutive unanimous-decision wins when he stopped Malik Zinad back in June. Although, one of those points triumphs remains as the standout performance of his career, enhancing his reputation with a dominant display against Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in 2022.
Speaking with Boxing Social, Roy Jones Jr. outlined how Bivol’s upset win over Canelo has convinced him that he has the edge in what many deem as a pick ‘em affair, whilst admitting that Beterbiev’s punch power stands alone as possibly the most impressive he has witnessed in the 175lb division.
“It is not a 50/50 fight. For one, Beterbiev is 38-years-old. Beterbiev has been [knocked] down. Bivol hasn’t been down. Bivol has been in with [someone] who was, at the time, the pound-for-pound best in Canelo Alvarez – he made him look like nothing. I am not saying that it is a 50/50 because Beterbiev has got everything to show me, to bring it back to a 50/50.
“Right now, Bivol has the advantage in a 60/40. Now, Beterbiev is a hell of a guy and a hell of a fighter with awesome power, but he also has been down. I always look at stuff from the way that I used to see things from [when I was in the ring]. The way that I’d look at it, if somebody else knocked you down, then I have got to get you down.
“That is a hell of a punch to walk through to get him down though, so it is a very dangerous game that Bivol has got to play. Beterbiev is probably the best puncher ever, in that division.”
In response, Bivol told us how he beamed with pride and revealed that such belief from an idol of his has given him even more confident ahead of fight night.
“It means a lot to me [to receive such praise from Roy Jones] to be honest, because Roy Jones is one of my favourite fighters; Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Mike Tyson and [Muhammad] Ali – they are [on a different level], for me. At one period in my life, they were just idols. Now he is giving me the chance that I could win, it is amazing for me to be honest. It gives me more confidence.”
Beterbiev-Bivol takes place on October 12th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in an eagerly-awaited meeting that tops a stellar undercard live on DAZN PPV.
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