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Artur Beterbiev kept things predictably simple when he was asked to describe Dmitry Bivol in three words.
“He’s a boxer. A good boxer. And he’s my challenge,” the WBC,WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion told Queensberry.
“I don’t know,” he expanded slightly when asked if he expects Bivol, the WBA title holder, to provide him with the toughest test of his career when they collide in Saudi Arabia on October 12th. “I already had two fights before undisputed for unification fights and those guys were good too. We will see what happens with this guy.”
The eagerly anticipated fight is being widely portrayed as a clash between beauty and the beast or the boxing skills of Bivol, 23-0 (12 KOs), against the raw power and strength of Beterbiev, 20-0 (20 KOs).
The assumptions are made by those who concentrate on highlight videos of Beterbiev brutalising his opponents at close quarters. The 300 amateur fights he had at the very highest level and the years spent in the Russian amateur system are overshadowed by videos of him strengthening his forearms and wrists by spinning and catching heavy barbells.
Those who have shared the ring with Beterbiev have a very different interpretation of his skills.
Yes, he is a fearsome fighter but he wouldn’t have accomplished everything that he has if he were not also a masterful boxer who has spent years perfecting his particular craft.
Beterbiev is a man of few words but, despite the language barrier and his tongue being firmly in his cheek, it wasn’t difficult to understand his true thoughts when he was asked if he gets frustrated by people underestimating his boxing ability.
“I feel like in the boxing gym – or when you do some job – you do the job and feel like there is space to do better. I feel always like this. I need to do more training on my skills as a boxer,” he said.
“I will do. I will try to be a good boxer. It is good because my goal is to be a good boxer one day and it means I’m not there yet.
“I need to do hard training because I’m not there. I’m not a good boxer yet. I will be a good boxer if I do hard training. Not for Bivol or someone else.”
Beterbiev’s 20 professional fights have been spread over 11 injury-plagued years and at the age of 39 many have wondered whether beating Bivol and finally becoming the undisputed light heavyweight champion would provide the perfect curtain call to an outstanding career. He believes that although beating Bivol would complete one mission, there may still be other challenges waiting for him.
“For this category, I think this is the main goal,” he said. “We will see afterwards. Challenges? Maybe different categories, go up. We’ll see. I’m not focused on those things.
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79