5 Burning Questions for Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol II
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The highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is set to determine the undisputed king of the light heavyweight division. Their first encounter was a tactical chess match. Both men have made adjustments and are eager to leave no doubt this time around. Will Bivol find a way to keep Beterbiev at bay with his jab and footwork? Or will Beterbiev’s pressure and power once again be the deciding factors?
Beyond the main event, this Saudi-backed super card boasts a deep lineup of must-see fights. Rising stars, proven contenders, and high-stakes matchups litter the event. From Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov to Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole, every bout carries its own intrigue.
#1. What adjustments can Beterbiev & Bivol make from their first meeting that will benefit them in the rematch?
Lee: Dmitry Bivol has to be the aggressor this time around. He has to show a willingness to make the fight a brawl, rather than his normal defensive-minded fight plan. Also, his game plan has to include making Artur Beterbiev go on the defensive while using good footwork and letting his hands go. Beterbiev needs to pressure Bivol again, while displaying his toughness and willingness to fight. The champ is the stronger of the two. But, he will need to incorporate some multi-punch combinations this time around. In the first fight, Beterbiev seemed comfortable being the counter puncher. In this fight, he might want to lead the dance.
Evan: So I differ a little from Lee here. I do agree though that Bivol does need to be more consistent in his aggression, primarily down the stretch in the final three rounds or so. However, from a tactical standpoint he needs to do a better job of establishing his jab in this rematch. According to CompuBox, Dmitry averages 34.1 jabs thrown per round, landing 8.4 per round, which is the highest rate in the sport currently, and has a connect percentage of 24.6%. In the first meeting with Artur, he only threw an average of 21.2 jabs per round, landed 4.8 per round, and at a clip of just 22.7%. Arguably, his best weapon was diminished pretty severely.
So being more active with his jab could be crucial for Bivol, helping him to deter Artur’s pressure, and set up his combinations more easily. For Beterbiev, I just believe he needs to start quicker, attack the body more, and try to corral Dmitry. If he’s able to cut the ring off more efficiently, rather than trying to chase Bivol down, maybe he can force the defensive dynamo to make a mistake that leads to an opening for a KO win this time around.
#2. Outside of the main event, what’s the fight on this “super card” that you’re most excited for? What’s the fight you feel is the most meaningful?
Lee: I can’t wait to see Vergil Ortiz Jr. in the ring against Israil Madrimov. Madrimov held his own against Terence Crawford in his last fight. As for the hard-punching Vergil, he has looked good since returning to the ring following some inactivity. Although he has won three fights in a row since returning, this will be a step up in competition and should be a strong test. Madrimov is known for switching his stances and using angles to vary his attack. Can Vergil’s hand speed, power, and pressure be enough against Madrimov’s excellent footwork and distance control? This super welterweight matchup features two highly skilled guys in this true clash of styles.
Evan: It’s hard to argue with Lee’s choice of the Ortiz Jr-Madrimov. Israil’s stock only went up in a competitive loss to Terence Crawford. Vergil is coming off a hellacious firefight with Serhii Bohachuk. This really is a great test for Ortiz Jr., and could be a sneaky fight of the year-caliber battle. From a technical matchup, their styles just clash so well. The physicality they bring to the table is a recipe for an entertaining scrap.
On the other hand, Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole is my choice for the most meaningful fight on the card. With IBF heavyweight champion, Daniel Dubois, being forced off the card due to an illness, Bakole is a fantastic last-minute replacement. The Congolese monster is riding a 10-fight winning streak, with eight of those victories coming by way of stoppages. Meanwhile, Parker has put together impressive back-to-back victories over former heavyweight champs, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zang. Both have been on a hot streak as of late. Bakole’s size, power, and stalking style going up against Parker’s craftiness should be fun to watch. Add in a potential shot at undisputed heavyweight king, Oleksandr Usyk, being on the line, and this matchup feels like a pretty big deal.
#3. What fighter is under the most pressure to perform on this card, and who has the most to lose?
Lee: This is an easy answer, Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson has been heavily criticized after his last few fights, and deservedly so. To be brutally honest Stevenson’s hit-and-not-get-hit style has led to some boring performances. Shakur has second-to-none hand speed, but it seems he cowers away from hand-to-hand exchanges. Stevenson has said we will see a new version of him in this fight and claims he doesn’t fear power. He’ll need to show a willingness to exchange at close distance and connect with some good shots of his own to come away with the win.
Evan: I feel the easy answer honestly is probably Beterbiev and Bivol, but I’m with Lee. It’s gotta be Shakur Stevenson. While he’s got the best plus/minus in boxing currently, he’s one of the best defensive fighters of his generation, and uniquely talented. He has been heavily scrutinized for his recent performances. Now with his Floyd Schofield matchup unfortunately being called off, and facing undefeated UK fighter, Josh Padley, as a late replacement opponent, Shakur’s luck continues to be rough. It’s really become a lose-lose situation for him. Factoring in that this matchup will be lumped in between fellow lightweight champions, Keyshawn Davis, and Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ latest fights only adds more pressure on Stevenson to provide an impressive showing on Saturday.
#4. Will this Saudi led mega event produce more similar stacked cards going forward?
Lee: If boxing can find a way to sure up its normally weak undercards, I think these mega cards could become a thing. Turki Alalshikh believes in putting on events while spotlighting the sport of boxing. Unlike the UFC, boxing cards are rarely stacked with fights fans want to see outside of the main and co-main events. Mega cards allow fans to get excited about historical matchups made in the spirit of competition. But they also get to know younger fighters on the rise. A few weeks back, Premier Boxing Champions and TGB presented a mega card in Las Vegas. The card was headlined by David Benavidez and featured Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Stephen Fulton, and Brandon Figueroa. More importantly, fans are willing to buy the PPV when the card is full of meaningful fights.
Evan: As Lee mentioned, most boxing undercards are rarely ever as stacked as this one. I just don’t buy that other prominent promoters and promotions within the sport will look to replicate this… Nor do they have the same resources as the Saudi’s to pull them off. They don’t have the leeway to spend the required money or lose it either, in the way Turki Alalshikh does. I believe we can see more mega events like this going forward. But, with the caveat being they will be under the Turki-Saudi Arabia led umbrella. I wouldn’t expect PBC, Top Rank, Matchroom, Golden Boy…to try to pull these kinds of cards off themselves in the future.
#5. Ultimately, who do you favor in the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol rematch?
Lee: Some fans are saying this is a 50-50 fight. I don’t see it that way. I think Beterbiev walks to ring with confidence knowing he won the last fight. Bivol could have won the last fight with a stronger finish in the closing rounds. But, Beterbiev was the more consistent fighter on that night. Bivol didn’t scare Beterbiev with his power so the champ will use his pressure to keep Bivol on defense. The judges’ scorecards were hugely questioned at the end of their first encounter. I don’t think scoring will play a part this time around. Bivol will look to press more. In doing so, he will leave himself open to getting hit by the champion who is also a KO artist.
Evan: I actually disagree with Lee, this is a true coin flip fight no matter which way you slice it. These two could fight a hundred times, and it would more than likely always be a competitive bout. I’m going to go the other way here though, and side with Bivol. I feel he really will try to establish and be more dominant with his jab in this rematch. I see him fighting behind that, landing the crisper combos again, and doing just enough to stifle Beterbiev’s downhill aggression. However, if Dmitry opens up too much offensively, there’s always a chance Artur can knock him out in this second showdown given his Hulk-like punching power. But I’m still rolling with Bivol to edge out another tightly contested decision. It will set up a potential trilogy between the two light heavyweight stars.
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