Artur Beterbiev posted on X immediately that he’s “Locked in” for his rematch with Dmitry Bivol on February twenty second. They’ve “2 weeks to go” for his or her second battle on the Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Beterbiev’s Mindset
The undisputed gentle heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) has a decided look that implies he will likely be attacking Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) relentlessly all through the battle to drive him into exchanges.
Beterbiev’s former cutman, Russ Anber, believes he has extra room to enhance than Bivol does. He feels that the previous WBA gentle heavyweight champion Dmitry, 34, fought as almost properly as he may in that battle. Artur was coming off current knee surgical procedure when he fought Bivol final October, and he wasn’t 100%.
It is going to require so much from Bivol to boost his sport from what he did final time. Sadly for followers, it’s believed that Bivol could make use of quite a lot of holding to forestall Beterbiev from touchdown his pictures when he will get close to. That’s probably the most manageable space for Bivol to enhance. This occasion is on DAZN PPV, and followers predict so much from these two. As such, it will be disappointing if Dmitry chooses to carry consistently to neutralize Beterbiev’s assaults. Nonetheless, that possibly his solely possibility.
Bivol was weak when mixing it up with Beterbiev from the sixth spherical of their earlier battle on October twelfth final yr. That’s the place he was damage by a proper hand from Beterbiev. That led to IBF, WBC, and WBO 175-lb champion Beterbiev sweeping a lot of the rounds within the second half of the competition.
Can Bivol Enhance?
“I’m unsure how a lot he can enhance on his efficiency. I feel he boxed a superb battle. I’m unsure what alternate options he can provide you with,” mentioned cutman Russ Anber to Secondsout when requested if Dmitry Bivol can enhance on his earlier efficiency in opposition to Artur Beterbiev.
“I do consider Beterbiev can enhance on his final efficiency. I don’t consider we noticed Beterbiev at his greatest. He’d had surgical procedure on his knee and coming again. He wasn’t as forceful as he often is. He appeared much more conservative.
“I personally gave him the sting. I believed he closed out the final three rounds fairly strong,” Anber mentioned about Beterbiev. “I believed he confirmed he can damage Bivol. I feel he can enhance on his efficiency.
Beterbiev was coming off knee surgical procedure to restore a blown meniscus that had occurred earlier in 2024. You would inform from watching Artur’s motion contained in the ring that he wasn’t as fast to pursue Bivol as he usually is in his fights.
This allowed Dmitry to land fast 1-2 mixtures after which retreat. Bivol would maintain his left hand out far in entrance of him to maintain Beterbiev from closing the space, which was efficient all through the battle.
“Bivol goes to should provide you with one thing. He’s going to have to tug one thing out of the hat to provide you with a greater efficiency and overtake what Beterbiev brings to the desk. He fought an amazing battle, and I feel Beterbiev didn’t,” mentioned Anber.
Bivol should keep within the pocket extra to have a greater shot at successful the battle. The judges clearly famous how he was giving floor to Beterbiev within the second half of the competition. It appeared that Dmitry was simply attempting to outlive.
“I feel Beterbiev can enhance much more. So, Bivol goes to have to enhance with the championship rounds. The final three rounds value him. However Beterbiev is probably not that far behind within the championship rounds to enhance extra on what he did within the first battle. I feel he generally is a little bit extra imposing,” mentioned Anber.
Locked in 🔒… Simply 2 weeks to go… pic.twitter.com/MIeUJX9MZj
— Artur Beterbiev (@ABeterbiev) February 8, 2025
Final Up to date on 02/08/2025