Bivol vs. Beterbiev: The Awaited Light Heavyweight Showdown

In a highly anticipated boxing match, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are set to face off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This bout will crown the top light heavyweight boxer of the current generation, as the two fighters will compete for supremacy in the 175-pound division.

Both Bivol, who holds the WBA belt, and Beterbiev, who holds the WBC, WBO, and IBF titles, have dominated the light heavyweight category for the past seven years. Despite their acclaimed status, a clash between these two Russian fighters has been delayed due to various reasons, including promotional and organizational conflicts.

Since 2017, the duo has been at the forefront of the division, with Bivol rated as ESPN’s No. 4 and Beterbiev as No. 6. This makes the upcoming match a critical moment in both of their careers. “This is the last step with achievement in professional boxing in every weight class,” Bivol stated in a recent interview with ESPN. “We just could see No. 1, who’s the best. For me, it means all my career I was doing right, that I got this fight.”

Beterbiev echoes a similar sentiment, acknowledging the importance of becoming the undisputed champion. “It’s [the] main goal in professional boxing,” he mentioned to ESPN. If Beterbiev wins, it will further his undefeated streak, currently boasting a record of 20 wins, all by knockout.

The road to this fight was not straightforward. The challenges of dealing with rival promoters, mandatory title defenses, and financial demands complicated the path. Bivol noted, “Why it didn’t happen [sooner]? Because we didn’t have some person like Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season who could deal with all promotions and TV stuff.”

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, played a pivotal role in finalizing the fight, which will be streamed on ESPN+ and DAZN. “It means so much to me, for the history of Mexico, to be an undisputed champion,” said Bivol, reflecting on the significance of the achievement.

The fight between Bivol and Beterbiev has become one of the most awaited events in boxing, aligning with megafights like Usyk-Fury and Crawford-Spence. Keith Connolly, who manages several high-profile boxers, remarked on the rarity and complexity of organizing such unification bouts. “These unification fights are so rare and so hard to make because usually there is conflict between promoters and networks that sometimes make it almost impossible,” Connolly added.