Teddy Atlas has weighed in a potential undisputed clash between Russian light heavyweights Dmitri Bivol and Artur Beterbiev – and believes Bivol has what it takes to get one over his destructive countryman.
The legendary trainer revealed that, for his money, Bivol’s stoic mentality coupled with his supreme skillset make him the only fighter in the division who could topple Beterbiev.
Speaking on his podcast The Fight With Teddy Atlas, he said:
“That [Bivol vs Beterbiev] is the fight I want to see. It’s an interesting and intriguing fight.”
“Bivol is the one guy I think could beat Beterbiev right now. Beterbiev is not getting any younger, so whatever he’s going to do, he better do it soon.”
“Right now, I would make Bivol a slight favourite. He’s got the skillset to beat Beterbiev – but other guys do too. More importantly, he’s got the mental togetherness to do it when the fire comes. I think with Bivol’s background, he will have the mental resilience to continue doing what he does when the fire comes from Beterbiev.”
“Everyone Beterbiev’s faced so far, he’s gotten to. But I don’t think he gets to Bivol.”
Bivol is most pundits fighter of the year for 2022, after he followed up his upset defeat of Canelo Alvarez in May with a near punch perfect performance against Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
A fight with Beterbiev, however, is unlikely to be next. The 37 year-old is set to defend his three world titles against Brit Anthony Yarde next January, whilst a rematch against Canelo Alvarez looks the most likely course for Bivol in 2023.