Jan Paul Rivera Pizarro proved too strong for Andy Beltran in a thrilling encounter Friday at Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza in Caguas, Puerto Rico, recording a competitive unanimous decision win.

Puerto Rico’s Pizarro (11-0, 7 KOs) was ruthless throughout the eight-round contest, wobbling Beltran (8-1, 5 KOs) with power shots. The fighters started the bout by exchanging powerful shots, but Pizzaro made use of his jabs to keep Mexico’s Beltran at bay.

In the second round, Pizzaro landed a big right hook that troubled his opponent. Pizzaro followed up with another big right hand that wobbled Beltran, who responded in equal measure.

Moments later, Beltran nearly visited the canvas from a right hook, but he stood firm to take the punishment. The third and fourth rounds saw Pizzaro attack more frequently, landing combinations to the face and body of Beltran.

Beltran did not succumb to Pizzaro’s shots and came back into the fight by landing clean shots. At this stage, the fight started getting intense, as both fighters went trading. However, Pizzaro landed the lion’s share of the punches, connecting with a right hook to the jaw of Beltran.

As Beltran came forward, Pizzaro maintained his composure in the fifth round, eating punches with vigor. In the sixth and seventh rounds, Pizzaro maintained the pressure with two quick left hooks that dazed Beltran, but the resolute Puerto Rican kept his composure.

In the final round, Pizzaro relied on his jabs to keep Beltran at bay, knowing he had cruised to an emphatic win, which the judges scored 80-72, 80-72 and 79-73 in his favor.

On the undercard, Puerto Rico’s Krystal Rosado-Ortiz (5-0, 2 KOs) cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Perla Lomeli (6-3) in a women’s bantamweight contest. Also, welterweight Elijah Flores (9-0, 3 KOs) triumphed over Omar Rosario (13-2, 4 KOs) via an eighth-round unanimous decision victory.

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com .

The last time we checked in on former junior middleweight champion Austin Trout, he revealed that the ladies in his life (his mom, wife and daughter) weren’t too happy about his transition from traditional boxing to the bare knuckle form of the sport.

On Saturday, Trout will defend his BKFC welterweight title for the first time against Ricardo Franco. Have they come around yet?

“Oh yeah,” Trout said. “They’re coming to Spain. My daughter's coming to the fight, too. She didn't want to watch me fight when it was in Albuquerque. [Laughs.] So they came around.”

Funny what a little European trip can do to change someone’s mind about fistfighting. But, in all seriousness, the Trout family should check out what the 39-year-old is doing in a sport he just picked up a little over a year ago, going from zero to a world title seamlessly while closing in on the big four-oh.

It may not seem like a big deal for someone who hit the heights of the boxing world, facing the likes of Miguel Cotto, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and the Charlo brothers along the way. But this is a different discipline, and while he didn’t have to reinvent the wheel, he did have to adjust to his new normal.

“There's a lot of, I don't want to say unlearning, but just a lot of relearning,” Trout said. “For instance, boxing-wise, I can thug out 10, 12 rounds out of shape because that's what I've been used to. It won't be pretty, but I can do it. Wrestling or grappling, I'm cooked within a couple minutes. It's a different wind. So I had to build my wind for the clinching, the holding, hitting and trying to be fast on one side but strong on the other side. I’m switching off, using their weight against them to pull their hands through all those little intricacies and Greco-Roman wrestling and Muay Thai. I started looking into a lot of that. I want to be a ninja. The whole package.”

Respect must be given, not just for his success thus far, but for the fact that Trout is still learning, still seeking knowledge and still wanting to be the best in the world at an age when most have called it a day. But truth be told, Trout knew he was going to run this town when he took off the gloves. 

“You could go back and look from the first fight,” he said. “Any interview I did, I was like, ‘Let me get my feet wet. But after this, give me the baddest motherfucker y'all got.’ I was like, ‘Who is that?’ And they're like, ‘[Luis] Palomino.’ OK, let me get that. And luckily, he called me out and it ended up how it happened. But, yeah, I'm about to run this. It's been a year, and I'm champ.”

After beating former UFC star Diego Sanchez in his BKFC debut in February 2023, Trout scored a near-shutout decision win over Luis Palomino to win the welterweight crown. This weekend he’s in Spain, but moving forward, he has his eyes on a lightweight title in BKFC, saying that making 155 pounds won’t be an issue.

“I’m looking to be a two-division champ,” he said. “I can still make 155, and I'm going to be running this joint.”

So have we lost him forever in traditional boxing?

“Not necessarily,” he said. “As champion, I do feel a responsibility to make bare knuckle my first love right now, even though boxing was my first love. But if the right opportunity presented itself with the gloves on, I'd be more than open to take it. This bare knuckle is keeping me busy, though. I love it.”

Trout is 6-0-1 in his seven traditional boxing bouts since a 2018 loss to Jermell Charlo, and the way he has reinvented himself, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could put the gloves back on and make some noise with some new tricks to head into battle with.

“A lot of the stuff that I'm doing now, when I go and look back at Hagler, Ali, Leonard – even back with Willie Pep, Armstrong or Sugar Ray Robinson – they had head control and hand control. They were holding hands. They catch 'em with a hook and then grab their hands again. It was a lot of hand manipulation that they used. And so I'm just going to bring that back, looking like the vet. I am with new tools.”

Sounds like bare knuckle could be a good option for some boxers to investigate. Trout agrees, but he also points out that most aren’t about that life, even if they think they are.

“Nelson Lopez is the guy that got me in, and I just kind of push them his way,” said Trout when asked if any of his fellow boxers have reached out to him about a move to the other side. “But a lot of fighters, they think they're down. But when they really think about it, they're like, nah. [Laughs.] So those conversations, for the most part, haven't gone anywhere.

“But you know what? After I won my belt from Palomino, I get a DM from Jermall Charlo talking about, ‘Set up the fight – me and you for the belt.’ And I'm like, ‘Say less.’ I would love that rematch. Are you kidding me? But nothing came about it. You know what I mean?”

We do.

How Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol became the two best light heavyweights is the same way they will seek to become the one true king of the 175-pound weight class when they share the ring Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Beterbiev is a power puncher – that is obvious enough given his record (20-0, 20 KOs) and the quality of opponent many of those victories have come against. But he’s more than just a pair of heavy hands.

“A lot of people think Artur is like Mr. T in the ‘Rocky III’ movie – just a destroyer,” said John Scully, the retired former light heavyweight contender who has worked as Beterbiev’s assistant trainer since 2016. “You gotta watch him. Artur is a master boxer. He’s very, very, very technical.”

Bivol is a highly capable boxer – that is obvious enough given how he stymied someone as skilled as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and dominated other contenders. He also has more pop than his record (23-0, 12 KOs) might otherwise indicate, and he’s occasionally willing to let loose with eye-pleasing combinations.

“Dmitry is truly that good,” said Kathy Duva, the longtime promoter who heads up Main Events. Bivol is not signed with the company, but Duva, in her personal capacity, serves as Bivol’s adviser. “Dmitry's got all the tangibles in this fight. No fight is easy. But I think everybody's in for a big surprise. I think this guy's made for Dmitry.”

The fighters and their teams are not just respectful but complimentary of what the opposition is capable of doing. They’re just confident that they can do even better.

“He has great experience and is a good boxer. He’s a good challenge for me,” Beterbiev told BoxingScene’s Manouk Akopyan .

Bivol, meanwhile, recognizes Beterbiev’s considerable attributes, calling the IBF, WBC and WBO titleholder an “amazing puncher” in one interview and concurring with Scully in another:

“He has the skills. He's not only just a good puncher. He's a really good and smart fighter,” Bivol said . “He has experience and a boxing IQ. He has three belts for a reason. For his age, he has really good conditioning. I just need to be myself and improve on my skills. You can't prepare to get punched. You have to prepare not to get punched.”

That’s easier said than done.

“He takes his time and he breaks you down,” Scully said of Beterbiev. “Twelve rounds is a tremendously long time to be in the ring with Artur Beterbiev. I don't care how good you look early on. I don't care how sharp you look in the first two rounds, because the sixth round is always going to be way different than the first round with him.”

Beterbiev won his first world title in 2018. In the seven defenses he has made since, the toughest bouts came against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019, Marcus Browne in 2021 and Anthony Yarde in 2023.

Gvozdyk, who was the WBC titleholder and lineal light heavyweight champion at the time, was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards when Beterbiev dropped and stopped him in the 10th round.

Browne also took an early lead, and Beterbiev was further endangered when a clash of heads opened a large cut on his forehead in the fourth round, sending blood down his face and into his eyes. But Beterbiev retook control, took the lead and took Browne out in the ninth.

Yarde was ahead on two scorecards after seven rounds, but he was battered and beaten in the eighth.

“Twelve rounds with him is like running a marathon, and you're not a marathon runner, and you're just trying and you're saying to yourself, ‘I gotta do 18 more miles of this,’” Scully said. “They’re hitting [Beterbiev] and they’re saying, ‘Oh, he's going to get tired.’ And he just gets stronger and stronger and stronger. And he's almost unstoppable in that regard. You're not going to get this guy tired. You're not going to win a war of attrition with him.”

Then again, Bivol may be better, and may fare better, than Gvozdyk, Browne and Yarde. He has also shown plenty of stamina and has a world of experience going 12 rounds and emerging victorious, as he did against the power-punching Joe Smith Jr. in 2019.

“I think [Beterbiev] depends, like most big punchers, on the punch,” Duva said. “And I think if that's what you've got, as Lennox Lewis once said to me famously about David Tua, ‘All he can do is punch. Easy, easy work.’

“I’m not going to say [the Beterbiev fight is] easy. If you look at their opponents that they faced throughout their careers, I think Dmitry has fought far, far tougher opposition much earlier in his career. Everybody's in love with Beterbiev because he comes in there and he's silent and he's the big puncher and he's got this great image.

“But in the end, I think the superior boxer and the guy who can take the best punch wins those fights. And so I've got my money on Dmitry on both counts,” Duva added. “A boxer can do a lot to negate a puncher. It's not just any old boxer who can beat any old puncher. But if you are a boxer who is as cerebral as Dmitry is – because he's very cerebral – he's playing chess the whole time he's in the ring.”

Then again, Bivol was rocked by Smith at the end of the 10th round of their bout, a right hand from Smith that landed over Bivol’s left hook doing the damage just after the bell rang. The punch landed on Bivol’s left ear, and he wobbled backwards before steadying himself with the ropes on his way back to his corner. Then again (again), Bivol was sturdy on his feet, though cautious, in the 11th and finished with a flourish in the 12th.

“If that was Artur and there was 20 seconds left, the fight's over,” Scully said.

Beterbiev also faced Smith, taking him out in two rounds in 2022. Triangle theory isn’t foolproof in boxing, however. The most famous example: Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali, George Foreman demolished Frazier, and yet Ali defeated Foreman.

In this fight, what each man brings to the ring will challenge his opponent to perform at an even higher level.

“Bivol is a very good boxer. He’s very skilled. He’s very patient,” Scully said. And Artur’s going to have to be on his game 100 percent. But I think his 100 percent against Bivol's 100 percent, I’m very happy with the matchup.”

“To be honest, all my skills should be at the highest level,” Bivol told BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire . “Not only speed. Not only movement. Everything. My jab. My right hand. My strength. To be aware of danger. Everything needs to be at the highest level.”

Speaking of 100 percent, Duva questioned whether Beterbiev is, raising the matters of his age (39, while Bivol is 33), injuries and inactivity.

“The guy’s pushing 40 and he's been injured badly, and he’s really not that active,” she said.

Beterbiev fought once apiece in 2022 and 2023. He’s already fought in 2024, a seventh-round technical knockout of Callum Smith in January. The Bivol fight was originally supposed to take place in early June but was postponed when Beterbiev underwent knee surgery to repair a ruptured meniscus. Beterbiev has also had a number of other injuries over the years: There was a shoulder injury in 2015 , a rib injury in 2020 and a leg procedure in 2022 .

You wouldn’t expect any fighter or his team to say otherwise, but Scully says Beterbiev is fine, that the knee hasn’t been an issue in training camp and that Beterbiev continues to perform at a high level even though he turns 40 in January.

“When I watch him, I never think about his age,” Scully said. “How many guys do you know in the second half of their 30s who have improved, have gotten better? When you watch Artur’s last few fights, he's good. He's become a well-rounded, world-class champion, right? After the fight with Callum Smith, I told Artur, ‘That's the best you ever looked.’ How many people can say that at 38?”

Beterbiev and Bivol have spent the past several years cementing their status as the two best light heavyweights in the world. Now they have reached their defining moment. They will need to present challenges that their opponent hasn’t faced before. And they will need to overcome circumstances they may never have experienced themselves.

“Bivol, for the most part, he's been able to fight his fight for his whole career, right?” Scully said. “But the real test is when you reach a point where you can't fight your fight anymore. Something has changed. A monkey wrench has been thrown in, and now you got to do something else. If he's willing to do that, I don't know. If he's able to do that, I certainly don't know. I know that Artur can box and create problems. And, obviously, I certainly know that Artur can create destruction. So I think a lot of the fight is going to depend on how strong-willed Dmitry really is with this particular guy. And like I said, I feel good about the fact that I see certain things with him that bode in our favor.”

Said Duva: “No matter how talented you are, when you get to that gut-check moment, when you get to that fight that's going to be the toughest of your career, you've got to have something inside you that's different than everybody else. And I see that in Dmitry. I saw that working with Pernell Whitaker. I learned that working with Ray Leonard. There are some guys who are just different. And Dmitry is one of those guys.”

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod . He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast . David’s book, “ Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing ,” is available on Amazon.

Cuban heavyweight Herich Ruiz (6-0, 4 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Travorus Barnes (6-1, 5 KOs) of Summit, Mississippi, in the main preliminary bout of “Most Valuable Promotions 9” on Friday at Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Despite the matchup of two heavy punchers, the fight was marked by hesitation from both fighters, resulting in a slow-paced contest.

The first round saw Ruiz, 29, using an active jab while Barnes kept a high guard, as noted by former four-division titleholder Nonito Donaire on the broadcast. Trained by Ismael Salas, Ruiz maintained a cautious pace and was the busier fighter, though neither boxer threw much in the early rounds. Ruiz began to press forward toward the end of the second round, but each man fought cautiously, wary of the other’s power.

In the third round, Barnes, 28, showed more aggression as the pace picked up slightly. By the fourth, Barnes pressed forward more, but Ruiz, the heavy favorite, pushed him back into the ropes. The action resembled a sparring session, though Ruiz landed some of his best body shots in the fifth.

Ruiz's jab, though not consistently landing cleanly, managed to keep Barnes on the back foot. Despite Ruiz taking control of the second half of the fight, the pace remained slow, with Barnes having some success in the seventh. However, Ruiz's defense and elusiveness limited Barnes' output, and the fight continued to drag.

The final round reflected the overall lack of intensity, with Ruiz landing a few solid body shots but waiting until the last minute to show more aggression. Ruiz clearly won the fight, but Barnes managed to go the distance, reaching the final bell.

The judges scored the bout 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 in favor of Ruiz.

Also on the card, junior lightweight William Colon (5-0, 3 KOs) secured a second-round technical knockout over fellow Puerto Rico’s Jan Pomales (7-4, 4 KOs).

Colon, 20, dropped the 27-year-old Pomales with a well-timed jab about two minutes into the first round. In the second round, both fighters traded heavy punches, but an overhand right from Colon sent Pomales to the canvas during a 50-50 exchange to start the round. Moments later, Colon landed a powerful pull-counter right hand, flooring Pomales for the third time in the round. Though Pomales attempted to beat the count, his corner stopped the fight. The official stoppage came at 1:22 of the second round.

In the opening bout, Puerto Rican featherweight Carlos De Leon (2-0, 1 KO) secured a four-round unanimous decision over Chicago’s Levale Whittington (1-0-1, 1 KO).

Whittington, 25, started strong, switching stances in the first round, but De Leon, 19, used a mix of craft and power to slow the pace. By the end of the second round, De Leon's heavy punches were taking a toll on Whittington. In the fourth, a series of left and right hooks pushed Whittington back, leaving him standing but no longer throwing punches. A hard left hand rocked Whittington as the fighters traded until the final bell.

Judges scored the fight 39-37, 40-36 and 40-36 in favor of De Leon.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.

STOCKTON, California – Gabriel Flores Jr. is poised for his third Stockton appearance under G-Squad Entertainment, led by his father, Gabe Flores Sr., with just 24 hours remaining until fight night at Adventist Health Arena.

The 22-year-old Stockton native Flores (24-2, 8 KOs) successfully weighed in at 134.6 pounds for his eight-round main event against Dennis Contreras (24-14-1, 22 KOs). Contreras, stepping in on short notice, missed weight at 136.6 pounds.

Flores enters the bout riding a three-fight winning streak, with all of his victories occurring in Stockton, where he headlined the last two events.

The scheduled co-feature between Sacramento’s Lorenzo Powell (2-0, 1 KO) and Salinas’ Adrian Serrano (4-0-1, 1 KO) was canceled. Promotional representatives have not disclosed the reason for the cancellation.

The card will be streamed on BLK Prime.

Full weigh-in results are as follows:

Lightweight – eight rounds 

Gabriel Flores Jr. (134.6 pounds) vs. Dennis Contreras (136.6 pounds) 

Junior lightweight – eight rounds 

Dominique Francis (130.8) vs. Julio Carrera (130.8)

Junior bantamweight – four rounds 

Andrew Rodriguez (114.0) vs. Marcelino Rangel (114.6)

Junior bantamweight – six rounds 

Jessie James Guerrero (112.8) vs. Bryan Santiago (114.0)

Junior welterweight – four rounds 

Steve Canela (136.2) vs. David Music (136.8)

Welterweight – four rounds 

Jennah Creason (148.8) vs. Roshetta Vatuvel (154.8)

Flyweight – four rounds 

Tatiana Almaraz (110.6) vs. Vickie Zhao (108.8)

Featherweight – four rounds 

Kyle Lacanlale (122.6) vs Ricardo Antonio Luna (124.8)

*Initially came in heavy

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.

At long last, two of the best in the business – and the No. 1 and 1a in the light heavyweight division – come together to settle undisputed status in the division. On Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Artur Beterbiev puts his three belts up against Dmitry Bivol's one, and the winner takes all.

Let's check in with our BoxingScene staff to find out how they see the fight developing and being decided.

Jason Langendorf: Anytime undisputed is on the line, in any division, it’s worth taking notice. But both Beterbiev and Bivol are already deservingly considered the highest caliber of champions, and their matchup of styles and the ancillary Hall of Fame argument – the winner enters – further amps the stakes of this one.

Bivol is a masterful technician, but he showed in the beatdown of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez that he also has a bit of dog in him. Beterbiev, who has the reputation of an indiscriminate destroyer of worlds, is actually more calculating and cerebral in the ring than he’s credited for.

After it’s all said and done, though, it’s the power in both hands and the relentlessness of Beterbiev that will win the day. Bivol can hold him off for a time with his excellent jab, and may even find opportunity to test his opponent’s chin. But over the rounds, Beterbiev will knock down Bivol’s defenses, find his openings and ultimately land the decisive blows before the final bell. The old guy just needs his body to hold up for 36 more minutes. I think it will. Prediction: Beterbiev by TKO10

Elliot Worsell: I hate predicting fights at the best of times – who really knows how a quality fight will play out? – but the idea of predicting the outcome of Beterbiev vs. Bivol is a stab in the dark even for boxing’s biggest know-it-alls. That is a testament to just how brilliant the fight is, of course, and how flawless the two Russians have so far been in their respective professional careers.

In fact, so good have they been, and so good is this fight, the only knock against them ahead of it has to do with age, in the case of Beterbiev, and a propensity to go the distance, in the case of Bivol. That aside, it is as hard finding a fault in these two as it is deciding which of them will win on Saturday. Because I have to, though, I’ll go for Beterbiev. Prediction: Beterbiev by decision

Eric Raskin: A lot of people are calling this a 50-50 fight. That’s ridiculous. It’s more like 51-49.

And to me, who’s the “51” and who’s the “49” has flipped. A year or so ago, I would have probably ever-so-narrowly favored Beterbiev. But the piling up of injuries for Beterbiev, the relative inactivity (this will be only his sixth fight since 2019) and the ticking of his body clock are enough to move the needle for me about two percent and make Bivol that tiniest of favorites.

Also, when all else is equal – and has all else ever been more equal in a fight than it is in Bivol vs. Beterbiev? – history says to pick the boxer. It would be a mistake, of course, to sleep on Beterbiev’s skill level; much like Gervonta Davis, he’s such a gifted knockout artist that it’s easy to lose sight of how clever he can be in the ring. But still, the edge in terms of pure skill has to go to Bivol. He’s the guy who wins if a fight never quite breaks out. Against Beterbiev, it will be his mission not to let a fight break out. Bivol was exceptionally disciplined against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, and I expect him to be just as disciplined this Saturday.

It won’t be easy to keep Beterbiev at bay, but age, injury and rust are all Bivol’s friends in that pursuit, and I think he’ll survive a few perilous moments to win a close, but deserved, points verdict. Prediction: Bivol by decision

Kieran Mulvaney: There is more to Artur Beterbiev than his power; he is a quality boxer with good ring generalship. But he is undeniably the puncher in the matchup, and often – although not always – in puncher-versus-boxer matchups, it is the technician, all other things being equal, who emerges victorious. That's what I think will happen here, with Beterbiev's age and injuries catching up to him and Bivol boxing a supremely disciplined fight to earn himself a surprisingly wide unanimous decision win. Prediction: Bivol by decision

Tris Dixon: It's almost here, finally. Saturday night, when these two are in the ring and the bell is about to sound, is when the sport is at its most magical. Forget the politics and the many other issues facing boxing and distill it to two top pound-for-pounders meeting to decide the best in the weight class.

Of course, we had it with Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. last year in a fight Crawford dominated. Will one fighter step up and boss this one? I'm not so sure. As we saw in yet another undisputed fight this year, between Fury and Usyk, these two will have more than one battle plan. Neither is a one-trick pony, despite Beterbiev being the banger and Bivol being the boxer. They both have the experience and attributes to adapt, too.

I've favored Beterbiev all the way through but am questioning whether, given the knee issue, he will have the mobility and accuracy required to win. But say each fighter is what we want, 100 percent, and without getting bogged down by hypotheticals? I'm going for Beterbiev to win the fight, and perhaps a knockdown or two will be the difference on the cards. Prediction: Beterbiev by decision

Lucas Ketelle: Everyone is going to say the same stuff about this fight, and that's exactly why it’s so fascinating. Beterbiev? The guy is the walking embodiment of the T-1000 from Terminator 2. But don’t sleep on his ring IQ. He’s way smarter than people give him credit for and might just be the best offensive fighter we've seen since Gennady Golovkin. Bivol, meanwhile, is criminally underrated when it comes to power, but he’s basically the boxing equivalent of the PC game Myst . Nothing was obvious in that game. Nor is it when you fight Bivol.

Now, let’s talk about X-factors. Beterbiev is 39. Bivol is 33. Beterbiev has never fought in Saudi Arabia. Bivol has in his past two fights. Beterbiev? Constantly dealing with injuries. Bivol? Pretty much injury-free compared to Beterbiev, who seems to average an injury a year. Every single intangible seems to lean Bivol’s way, and I’m going to lean that way, too.

No matter what the general consensus is, this feels like a fight where one guy is going to dominate. Also, this could be a fight in which how you take a punch matters more than people think leading into it. Prediction: Bivol by KO

Lance Pugmire: As certain as Dmitry Bivol is confronting a destructive punching force as he never has before in Artur Beterbiev, the Russian three-belt light heavyweight champion is meeting the shrewdest, most skilled opponent he has ever met. Bivol is six years younger than Beterbiev. He is fully healthy. Beterbiev had to withdraw in May from their originally scheduled June 1 date with a ruptured meniscus, and he had been sidelined by a variety of ailments before that.

Yes, Beterbiev is a fierce fighting machine with 20 knockouts in all 20 fights – "an animal," as his promoter, Top Rank President Todd DuBoef said – but Bivol hits back, too. Ask none other than longtime pound-for-pound elite Canelo Alvarez, who bowed to Bivol by unanimous decision two years ago.

Bivol has trained nearly all year for this, taking a June 1 replacement fight when Beterbiev went lame, and then putting himself through the rigors of desolate, rugged camps in Kyrgyzstan and Turkey to prepare for the fight of his life.

One punch can end it all. Bivol is well aware. He can take a punch and, most importantly, he is sophisticated enough to avoid them. Beterbiev will attack ruthlessly. Bivol will counter, eyeing the openings that exist when a brute aims to simplify the battle with pure violence. Thanks to his supreme fitness and strength to accommodate his punch resistance, Bivol is capable of winning this fight through these tactics. And his path eases as Beterbiev confronts the mortality of his age and injuries. He can’t match Bivol’s 12-round production, and if his sole intention is to win by KO, how will Beterbiev fare from Round 8 on?

Not very well. This is where Bivol wins the bout, implementing all the benefits of his superior cardio and youth to pile up additional rounds on the scorecards. This plan may kick in even sooner, perhaps by Round 6, and should Beterbiev age overnight, as the saying goes, Bivol will end him by Round 11. Prediction: Bivol by unanimous decision

John Evans: I haven't wavered on this since the fight was originally made earlier this year: Beterbiev to win. Oleksandr Gvozdyk made it to Round 10, but apart from that, nobody has come close to outboxing Beterbiev over the 12-round distance, and it would be a stunning result if Bivol were to score a knockout. 

Although Bivol is a tremendous talent and the best opponent that Beterbiev has faced, he will need to box a perfect fight to win. Beterbiev's boxing ability is being dramatically underrated – and he doesn't need to be perfect. He just needs to create moments. Maybe age and injury will finally catch up with the 39-year-old, but he seems like too rational a man to step into a dangerous fight in a depleted condition. Bivol will play his part in a tremendous fight. If he wins, it will be one of the great victories. Prediction: Beterbiev by KO

Bernard Neequaye: I expect a very tactical and technical fight between two Russian boxing greats on Saturday. Both Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol come into the fight with exceptional qualities that will be tested during the fight – Bivol’s technical mastery and Beterbiev’s power.

Beterbiev goes into the fight as one of the fiercest punchers in the sport today, and Bivol must try and deal with that if he wants to win the undisputed light heavyweight championship. If he can’t take the punches, he loses. On the other hand, if Beterbiev can’t sufficiently match Bivol’s boxing skill, he might never catch up with his rival. This much-anticipated fight promises to be a thriller, and I’m really looking forward to seeing both fighters come to the party.

Even though it is very difficult to predict who wins on Saturday, I believe Bivol has what it takes to triumph if he’s able to deal with Beterbiev’s hard-hitting punches. Prediction: Bivol by decision

Declan Warrington: As irresistible as the combination of Beterbiev's ferocity and cultured edges is capable of being, the serious knee injury he suffered that delayed this fight, combined with his 39 years, makes Bivol narrowly likelier to win the most competitive and appealing of matchups. Bivol possesses the variety, intelligence and discipline to produce the masterclass that will be essential if he is going to resist Beterbiev for 12 rounds and earn a decision. He will not only have to be better than ever before, he will also have to be more hurtful, by punishing Beterbiev to keep him at bay.

Dan Azeez, one of Beterbiev's former sparring partners, perhaps put it best when he said if they had been matched over 15 rounds, Beterbiev would be certain to win but that over 12 Bivol can succeed. Prediction: Bivol by decision

Owen Lewis: The framing of “boxer vs. puncher” certainly helps market this fight, but I wonder if it’s the wrong way to understand it. Artur Beterbiev is not Deontay Wilder, a fighter content to lose rounds until he finds a singular knockout shot. He’s usually up on the cards when he finds the inevitable stoppage, and even when he isn’t – like against Oleksandr Gvozdyk or Anthony Yarde – he has still won his share of rounds.

I don’t think Bivol is necessarily guaranteed a win if he simply avoids getting stopped. Much is made of his jab, but he will be at a one-inch reach disadvantage against Beterbiev, who outjabbed the rangier Callum Smith in January. And we don’t really know how Bivol will react if and when he gets hurt, which you have to imagine he will be at some point. Bivol’s chin is a question, as is his ability to make Beterbiev respect his power, given that his KO rate is under 50 percent. The knee is a concern, but Beterbiev delivering a knockout has become the most reliable thing in boxing, so I’ll rely on it here. Prediction: Beterbiev by KO

Manouk Akopyan: Artur Beterbiev has been trusted like a Rolex throughout his career. With regular maintenance and repair along the way, he has ticked and picked apart every rival he has ever faced by knockout. But on Dmitry Bivol's watch, Beterbiev will suffer a rude awakening and realize he's winding down when he meets the undefeated opponent no one beats: Father Time.

Beterbiev, three months away from turning 40, is somewhat limping into the fight. He has suffered a rash of injuries throughout his career. Four out of his last six fights – including this one, due to a ruptured meniscus requiring surgery in May – have been postponed due to his series of health issues.

Will the bulldozing Beterbiev appear to age overnight against the slick-boxing and fleet-footed Bivol? I say yes, because Beterbiev's fellow Russian counterpart is in a category of his own and can't be compared to the high level of opposition he has previously crushed.

It's a razor-thin fight on paper, and rightfully so. I'm anticipating a tense tussle in the first half turning into a one-sided affair in the second as Bivol leverages his lateral movement and boxes the brakes off Beterbiev. Bivol winning by decision seems like a safe pick, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Bivol rise to the occasion as he did against Canelo Alvarez, only this time by knocking out the knockout artist for yet another career-defining win. Prediction: Bivol by KO

The two huge doubleheaders taking place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo this coming Sunday and Monday morning (U.S. and U.K. times) will occur before our usual weekly TV picks article comes out – so let’s give these cards, which feature seven title fights, their own special edition.

Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. BST) on ESPN+

This show is headlined by Takuma Inoue defending his WBA bantamweight belt against Seiya Tsutsumi and is supported by three additional title fights.

Inoue vs. Tsutsumi: Takuma, a 28-year-old from Yokohama, is the younger brother of pound-for-pound king Naoya. Takuma turned pro in 2013 and fell short in his first title shot, losing a decision to WBC belt holder Nordine Oubaali in 2018.

Takuma has won seven in a row since, including a few fights in the 122-pound weight class. He dropped back to 118 in April 2023 and outpointed Liborio Solis to pick up the WBA title, one of four that had been left vacant after undisputed champ Naoya left for junior featherweight. Both of Takuma’s defenses have come this year: a ninth-round knockout of former 115-pound titleholder Jerwin Ancajas and a unanimous decision over Sho Ishida. He is now 20-1 (5 KOs).

Tsutsumi, a 28-year-old from Tokyo, is 11-0-2 (8 KOs). Both draws came in 2020 against Kazuki Nakajima and Daigo Higa. In his past three appearances, Tsutsumi outpointed unbeaten prospects Riku Masuda and Kazuki Anaguchi, then stopped the 4-1 Weerawat Noolae.

Kenshiro Teraji vs. Cristofer Rosales: Teraji is making his flyweight debut after a successful run in the 108-pound weight class. He will face Rosales for the WBC belt left vacant when Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez moved up to 115.

Teraji, a 32-year-old from outside of the city of Kyoto, won the WBC title at junior flyweight in 2017 with a majority decision over Ganigan Lopez. He made eight successful defenses, including a majority decision over Pedro Guevara, a second-round knockout of Lopez in their rematch and a seventh-round stoppage of former titleholder Milan Melindo.

That title run came to a surprising halt in September 2021, when Teraji suffered a 10th-round TKO loss to Masamichi Yabuki. They had an immediate rematch in March 2022, and Teraji regained his title via third-round knockout.

Then, in his next outing, Teraji added the WBA title and Ring championship with a seventh-round TKO of Hiroto Kyoguchi in November 2022. Since then, he has added victories over Anthony Olascuaga (more on him later), Hekkie Budler and Carlos Canizales.

It has been a great stretch. Can it continue in a new division? Rosales stands in the way.

Rosales, a 30-year-old from Managua, Nicaragua, is 37-6 (22 KOs). He is a former flyweight titleholder who won the vacant WBC title in April 2018 with a ninth-round TKO of the aforementioned Higa. Eight months later, Rosales lost the title in his second defense, dropping a decision to Charlie Edwards.

Rosales then lost another title shot in December 2019, fighting for the same belt Edwards had vacated, only to be stopped in nine by Julio Cesar Martinez. He has gone 8-1 since, losing a decision in 2022 to Angel Ayala Lardizabal, who himself has gone on to win a title at flyweight.

Charunphak, a 24-year-old from Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, is 25-1 (15 KOs). That loss came in just his second pro fight, back in 2018. There isn’t much of note on Charunphak’s record, but he did notch a ninth-round TKO over former 108-pound titleholder Kompayak Porpramook back in 2020. And just two months ago, Charunphak fought outside of Thailand for his first time as a pro, traveling to Japan and winning a majority decision over the 15-0 Kento Hatanaka.

Shokichi Iwata vs. Jairo Noriega: This fight is for the WBO junior flyweight title left vacant when Jonathan Gonzalez (more on him later) left for the flyweight division.

Iwata, a 28-year-old from Tokyo, is 13-1 (10 KOs), with that loss coming to Gonzalez via unanimous decision in 2022. He has since bounced back with four victories, including a sixth-round TKO of the 11-0 Jahzeel Trinidad in July.

Monday, Oct. 14 at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. BST) on ESPN+

This show is headlined by Junto Nakatani defending his WBC bantamweight title against Petch Sor Chitpattana, also known as Petch CP Freshmart. The undercard includes two title fights and one other intriguing support bout.

Nakatani vs. Sor Chitpattana: People outside of Japan are at last beginning to catch on to just how good Nakatani is.

His early days brought victories over future titleholders Masamichi Yabuki and Seigo Yuri Akui. In 2020, Nakatani knocked out Giemel Magramo to win a vacant flyweight world title, which he then went on to defend twice. Nakatani soon moved up to junior bantamweight and, in 2023, dominated Andrew Moloney and scored a highlight-reel 12th-round knockout to capture another vacant belt. Again, his reign was brief. After one defense, Nakatani jumped up to bantamweight this February and seized the WBC title from Alexandro Santiago via sixth-round TKO. Nakatani then dispatched Vincent Astrolabio in one round in July.

Sor Chitpattana, a 30-year-old from Roi-Et, Thailand, comes in with an eye-popping record of 76-1 (53 KOs). Almost all of those wins have come against low-level opposition. He did step up against Takuma Inoue at the end of 2018, losing a unanimous decision in what was, until now, his only fight outside of Thailand. Sor Chitpattana has fought 28 times since then.

Kosei Tanaka vs. Phumelele Cafu: Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) is a four-division titleholder who will be making the first defense of his WBO junior bantamweight belt, which was vacant when he won it with a unanimous decision over Christian Bacasegua Rangel in February.

Cafu, a 30-year-old from Duncan Village, South Africa, is 10-0-3 (8 KOs). He will be fighting outside of his home country for the first time as a pro. In his past few outings, Cafu has taken a split decision in a rematch with the 22-1-2 Jackson Chauke (they fought to a draw in their first meeting), outpointed the 20-2 Genisis Libranza and made short work of the 6-4 Enathi Stelle.

Anthony Olascuaga vs. Jonathan Gonzalez: Olascuaga, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, has moved with the speed befitting these lower weight classes, though not seen too often among fighters from the United States. He was 5-0 and two and a half years into his career when he challenged Kenshiro Teraji in April 2023, losing a ninth-round technical knockout.

Olascuaga then moved up to flyweight, dispatching former titleholder Giemel Magramo in seven rounds and knocking out Riku Kano in three rounds for the WBO belt left vacant by Bam Rodriguez. Olascuaga is now 7-1 (5 KOs).

Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Gerwin Asilo: While this fight is not for a world title, eyes are on Nasukawa, a former kickboxing star who did not fare well in a boxing exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2018. Nasukawa turned pro in earnest in 2023 and has gone 4-0 (2 KOs) so far. In July, the 26-year-old from Tokyo stopped the 17-2-1 Jonathan Rodriguez in three rounds.

This fight will be at bantamweight. Nasukawa will face Asilo, a 23-year-old from Ubay in the Philippines. He is 9-0 (4 KOs) and coming off a second-round knockout in July of the 19-5-1 Surat Eaim Ong.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod . He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast . David’s book, “ Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing ,” is available on Amazon.

Jai Opetaia has secured a significant victory by winning a $1.6 million legal case. This triumph comes just two days before his IBF cruiserweight world title defense against Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia, as part of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol card.

Former promoter Dean Lonergan had sued Opetaia for lost earnings after the boxer terminated their contract. The decision was made after Opetaia testified in May. “Won every point. It was a landslide,” said his manager, Mick Francis.

Lonergan helped Opetaia win the world title in 2022. However, the breakdown of their relationship led to two lawsuits against the Australian boxer. Opetaia is now signed with Matchroom and has become a prominent figure in Riyadh’s boxing scene.As he prepares for the fight, Jai Opetaia also has his sights set on the WBO belt.

This title holds special meaning for him, as it is tied to his grandfather, Billy, a former boxer who has inspired him since the beginning of his career.

“I really just want to put that belt around my waist, and I want to be able to give it to him,” Opetaia expressed. For the boxer, it’s about honoring his grandfather while he still can. This weekend, Opetaia will look to leave his mark on the division when he faces Massey.

Jai Opetaia’s current record stands at 25 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. He is undefeated in 25 fights. On the other hand, Jack Massey holds a record of 22 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws. While many predict an early knockout by Opetaia, Massey is a large and tough opponent who could put up a good fight.Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey for the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles 🥊🔥#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/9FU16WxDIo

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 11, 2024

Former junior middleweight titleholder Austin Trout is best known for a career-defining win against Miguel Cotto in 2012, and for giving Saul “Canelo” Alvarez all he could handle in a competitive fight in 2013.

“No Doubt” Trout (37-5-1, 18 KOs), now 39, is competing in the Conor McGregor-backed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and he’ll be fighting for the third time in BKFC on Saturday, defending his 165-pound crown against Rico Franco on Saturday in Marbella, Spain, on DAZN.

Trout still fondly remembers his fight against Alvarez. 

“Giving Canelo a great fight and losing to him has done more to my career than not fighting him at all, as far as my name and respect goes in boxing,” Trout told BoxingScene. “It's elevated me in ways that beating some other fighters wouldn't have.”

Trout has fallen short in big fights since facing Alvarez, dropping decisions to the likes of Erislandy Lara, both Charlo twins, and Jarrett Hurd in title fights.

“Give the king some respect. He can do whatever he wants now. As a fan, I would love to see the David Benavidez fight. That's the fight to make. And I am sure he will do it. When has he not fought the guy people have wanted him to fight?

“I was so sure before that Benavidez was the one [to beat Alvarez], but after his last fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, I don't know now. Maybe he should do another fight at 175 pounds to get in there and have a good showing so we can hype it up again. I would favor Canelo at this point. Everyone has a bad night, though.

“Canelo has looked better and better since the Dmitry Bivol fight. But I think Bivol will have his number in the rematch. Bivol outboxed and outsmarted him in the first fight. The Terence Crawford fight for Canelo is a bigger 50-50 fight than Benavidez. Crawford is strong, smart and tricky. He got some balls, bro. It's such a lose-lose fight for Canelo. That's not a smart fight to take. You win, you lose. You lose, you really lose.”

As Trout awaits for more boxing opportunities, he’s all in on his burgeoning bare knuckle fighting career.

“My hands are growing permanent calluses. I plan to eventually have thick knuckles like Bruce Lee, some real thick joints,” said Trout. “I've broken both hands before, but they have never given me problems. The breaks were never around the knuckles. My hands have held up throughout my whole career.” 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , LinkedIn and YouTube , through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com .

Chris Eubank Jr. made it clear that he is not concerned about Conor Benn, following a tense altercation between them just before the weigh-in for his fight against Kamil Szeremeta. The weigh-in, held this Friday, sparked considerable anticipation, not only for the fight between Eubank Jr. and Szeremeta but also due to Conor Benn’s presence.

Eubank Jr., who will fight on the undercard of the highly awaited battle between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, downplayed the confrontation with Benn, focusing instead on his opponent for Saturday.

The British boxer is making his return to the ring after more than a year out of action. His last fight was in January 2023 against Liam Smith. However, it was Conor Benn’s name that dominated conversations during the weigh-in, as they were supposed to face each other in 2022 before Benn failed a couple of doping tests, leading to the cancellation of their bout.

This Friday, Benn attempted to provoke Chris Eubank Jr. by making disparaging comments, trying to ignite tension between the two. But Eubank Jr., after weighing in at the regulation 159.12 pounds, the same as his rival Kamil Szeremeta, remained calm and showed confidence in his physique and focus.

Responding to the incident with Benn, Eubank Jr. said, “That little insect is a coward”, downplaying the provocation. “He showed his true colours. I’m not worried about Conor Benn,” he added firmly. Despite his harsh words for Benn, Eubank Jr. redirected his attention to the real challenge he faces this weekend.Eddie Hearn rejects the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight

“I’ve got to deal with this tough opponent in Kamil Szeremeta,” the Brit concluded, emphasizing that his focus is entirely on the immediate fight. The 35-year-old boxer showed an impeccable physique during the weigh-in, reflecting his preparation for the bout.

The event, which Chris Eubank Jr. will take part in, is generating significant expectations, not just for his fight, but also for the undisputed clash between Beterbiev and Bivol, which will be the main event of the night. For Eubank Jr., Saturday will be his opportunity to re-establish himself in the middleweight division, leaving behind the drama with Conor Benn and concentrating his energy on defeating Szeremeta.Chris Eubank Jr. did not hold back when sharing his thoughts on Conor Benn 👀#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/wojNnRFHrU

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 11, 2024

With Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol meeting on Saturday to definitively determine the top light heavyweight of this generation, who are the fighters they have to overtake to be considered as one of the division's all-time greats?

The light heavyweight division has seen some of the greatest boxers to ever lace them up, but defining what makes a great light heavyweight is surprisingly tricky. Particularly during the first two decades of the twentieth century, heavyweights were smaller and becoming king of the 175 pound weight class was not universally considered a meaningful goal. So the problem becomes: do fighters who weighed around 175 pounds but considered themselves heavyweights count as light heavyweight boxers for the purposes of retrospectives such as this?

Two all-time-greats with a case to be made for them are not on this list. Harry Greb is one, perhaps unreasonably given his overall brilliance and body of work, but he did most of his damage at middleweight. Similarly, while some who know far more than I have included Sam Langford in very high spots on similar lists, I have not. I yield to nobody in my admiration for Langford, but many of the bouts for which he weighed at or around 175 pounds were clearly heavyweight contests, as evidenced by his opponent frequently weighing much more; and for many of his fights, we don't have records of his weight. So I took the easy way out and left him off.

Some of the names on this list—Charles, Moore, Tunney, Foster, Spinks—are slam dunks in some order, others less so. The inclusion of Roy Jones at #10 will cause some apoplexy, particularly among those who argue Jones's light heavyweight dominance could not have been replicated had he competed when the division was at its murderous peak in the 1970s and 1980s. 

It says a great deal about the quality of the 175 pound weight class through history that a list like this doesn't feature the likes of Matthew Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Harold Johnson, Marvin Johnson, Michael Moorer, John Conteh, Victor Galindez, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Jack Dillon, Virgil Hill, and countless more. Like all such lists, it will presumably amuse and enrage in equal measure. 

All that being said, here is one person's list:

10. Roy Jones Jr (66-10, 47 KOs)

This is the entry on this list that will cause the most fume and fury, both from those who insist he should be higher and those who are aghast at the notion he should be anywhere near the all-time-great light heavyweights. Working against him is the fact that he was never the lineal champion and eschewed the opportunity to face rival titlist Darius Michaelczewski to secure that status; on the negative side of the ledger, too, is that his time at light heavyweight coincided with one of the division’s barren stages. Against that, Jones was an undeniably phenomenal talent, and from 1996 to 2003 was not only unbeaten at the weight (save for a DQ loss, emphatically avenged, against Montell Griffin) but was virtually untouchable.

9. Billy Conn (64-12-1, 15 KOs)

Conn's record is misleading, in that he had little by way of an amateur career, turned pro at 16, and lost six of his first 14. He then rattled off 27 straight wins over the likes of Fritzie Zivic (an all-time dirty fighter) and Vic Dundee and won the 175 pound title by defeating Melio Bettina. In 1941, he challenged Joe Louis for the heavyweight crown. Ahead handily through 12, he was knocked out with seconds remaining in the 13th.

8. Jimmy Bivins (86-25-1, 31 KOs)

Despite never being given the chance to fight for the world championship, Bivins faced 11 former, future, or current champions, defeating eight of them; and seven Hall-of-Famers, emerging victorious against four. His prime was from 1942 to 1946, when he scored wins over the likes of Joey Maxim and Archie Moore.

7. Maxie Rosenbloom (210-38-26, 23 NDs, 2 NCs, 19 KOs)

To win 210 contests with just 19 knockouts suggests tremendous ring acumen, which Rosenbloom possessed in bucketloads. A combination of skillful defense and a strong chin meant that he was stopped just twice in 299 fights, which unfolded over the course of 16 years —an average of more than 18 bouts annually. “Slapsie” Maxie won the world title in June 1930 and lost it four years and 107 fights later.

6. Tommy Loughran (94-23-9, 45 NDs, 1 NC, 17 KOs)

One of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, Loughran was the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1929 and 1931. He had wins over the likes of Harry Greb and heavyweights Max Baer and Jack Sharkey, and won the light-heavyweight crown in 1927 before abdicating two years later to focus on the heavyweight division.

5. Bob Foster (56-8-1, 46 KOs)

Perhaps the best single-shot knockout artist in the history of the light heavyweight division, Foster won the title in 1968 with a KO of champ Dick Tiger and went on to make a division-record 14 defenses over the next six years. Of his eight career defeats, seven were above 175 pounds, including losses to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in his peak years, and two in the final outings of his career after returning from a brief retirement.

4. Michael Spinks (31-1, 21 KOs)

Spinks is too often remembered for his first-round destruction at the fists of Mike Tyson and the controversy of his wins over Larry Holmes, but at light heavyweight, he was indisputably one of the very best, and the last champion of the division's golden era. A 1976 Olympic gold medalist, he beat veteran Yaqui Lopez in just his fourteenth fight as a professional, took out Marvin Johnson two fights later, and in his 17th pro bout, took the title from Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. He retained his belt 10 times, including against the likes of Dwight Muhammad Qawi, before stepping up to heavyweight and becoming the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship.

3. Gene Tunney (61-1-1, 19 NDs, 1 NC, 45 KOs)

One of the most skilled boxers of his time, as well as one of the most powerful, Tunney never won the light heavyweight championship but established himself as the best through victories over the likes of Harry Greb (who had previously handed him the only defeat of his career), the aptly named Battling Levinsky, Tommy Loughran, amd Tommy Gibbons before moving up to heavyweight and seizing the crown from Jack Dempsey, defending it in the “Long Count” rematch , and retiring.

2. Archie Moore (184-24-10, 1 NC, 130 KOs)

Moore has more knockouts to his name than anybody in the history of the sport. Amazingly, he did not win the title until he was 39 but then promptly held onto it for a decade. Famed for his cross-guard defense, “The Old Mongoose” also challenged all-time great heavyweights Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, and Muhammad Ali, and after retirement also trained a young George Foreman.

1. Ezzard Charles (89-25-1, 51 KOs)

In contrast to Moore's lengthy reign, Charles never won or even challenged for the light heavyweight championship, but from 1946 to 1949, he laid waste to the top of the division, beating Joey Maxim and Bivins and going 3-0 against the Old Mongoose before stepping up to heavyweight and taking the vacant crown via victory over Jersey Joe Walcott. His first defense was against former light-heavyweight champ Gus Lesnevich, who had repeatedly refused to give Charles a shot. Charles knocked him out in seven.

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcasted about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com.

The new undisputed light-heavyweight belt made its official debut during the weigh-in of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Both Russian boxers stepped on the scale this Friday, ahead of their title fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Saturday.

Bivol, 33, showed a leaner and slightly taller figure, weighing in at 174.12 pounds, just below the light-heavyweight limit. Meanwhile, Beterbiev, 39, who previously had to postpone the fight due to a meniscus tear, weighed 174.9 pounds. Both boxers respected the 175-pound limit without issues, signaling that they are in excellent physical shape for the bout.

After stepping on the scale, Beterbiev and Bivol briefly faced off in a stare-down that reflected mutual respect between the two contenders. Without any further gestures or provocations, they left the stage with the same composure they had when they arrived, clearly showing focus and discipline.

In an interview with DAZN, Bivol

Bivol, who has been training since the age of six, also spoke about his final preparations before the big fight. “I just need to eat right, sleep, and be ready. I’m used to it,” the champion added.

For his part, Beterbiev was brief but firm in his statements. When asked how he felt, he responded: “Good, like usual. My favorite part is fighting. Like I said, we’ll see. I’m getting ready to fight,” commented the experienced boxer, hinting at his preference for letting his fists do the talking.

Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, took the opportunity to promote the fight, describing it as a generational showdown in the light-heavyweight division. “This is a generational, great fight. The best fight in the light-heavyweight division for decades. Two ice-cold competitors. This is an opportunity for Dmitry Bivol to achieve a lifelong dream,” Hearn concluded.Davis-Roach undercard taking shape with additional world title fight touted

With excitement building and the new undisputed belt on the line, fans are eagerly awaiting Saturday’s fight, which promises to be one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year.⚖️ Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol weigh-in results (ceremonial weigh-in later): [@DanRafael1]

🇷🇺 Artur Beterbiev – 174.96lbs 🇷🇺 Dmitry Bivol – 174.12lbs

✅ All set for the undisputed light-heavyweight world title fight tomorrow night.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 11, 2024

‼️ Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol FINAL FACE-OFF ahead of tomorrow night…

[🎥 @Queensberry] pic.twitter.com/FbqKAgly3Q

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 11, 2024

Not long ago, Chris Eubank Jr. faced backlash for ruining the atmosphere of Riyadh Season by being overly outspoken. Now, just two weeks later, Artur Beterbiev, the light-heavyweight champion set to fight on Saturday, finds himself criticized for a contrasting reason: his silence and apparent reluctance to engage beyond what he considers necessary.

While some may see Beterbiev's silence as a disruption, it's particularly perplexing for those tasked with interviewing him and disappointing for others—especially those with a financial stake in the success of Saturday’s event. They’d prefer both Beterbiev and his opponent, Dmitry Bivol, to engage more at press conferences and express themselves when given the chance.

Beterbiev, however, remains unapologetically stoic. He’s known for his piercing gaze and one-word answers, revealing more in the ring than in interviews. Even in the ring, he tends to be notoriously frugal with his words.

“At the first press conference, Beterbiev said about three words,” complained Eddie Hearn, one of the many promoters involved with the event, in an interview with DAZN. “I actually found it quite arrogant because you’re flying him over, and he just went, ‘Good.’ It’s like, hang on a minute, you’re getting paid an absolute fortune; you owe us a little bit more than that. He couldn’t care less.

“In a way, I respect it; but in a way, I think it’s a little bit disrespectful. I’m not expecting him to come and start rolling around with Bivol, but you are a monster; you’ve got your role to play in this fight. You’re receiving a huge amount of money, so let’s play the game a little bit.

“But when you actually get into Beterbiev and break him down in the interviews, he is actually quite funny. He’s got this very cold, dry sense of humor that does come out. He should show that a little bit more.”

Hearn’s comments touch on several intriguing points, notably the notion that Beterbiev owes something to his paymasters for the substantial sums he receives. While it may seem reasonable to expect more engagement from Beterbiev, he’s certainly not the first fighter to offer only as much of himself as necessary, and he won’t be the last.

Moreover, due to the nature of Riyadh Season events and the exorbitant amounts of money being handed out, there is little incentive for Beterbiev to sell this fight as he might have in the past when the promotional model was more conventional. Here, with his earnings effectively guaranteed and ticket sales irrelevant, Beterbiev’s main focus is on avoiding injury and showing up ready to fight. Whether he chooses to offer a monologue or just a word or two at press conferences has no bearing on his financial reward.

“You talk a lot,” he told Hearn during Thursday’s press conference.

“That’s my job,” Hearn replied. “You should try it.”

If it’s Hearn’s job to promote and engage in conversation while in Saudi Arabia, why should it also fall to Beterbiev? He’s a fighter preparing for the most challenging bout of his life. Is that no longer sufficient in terms of a boxer’s contribution?

Perhaps promoters have grown so accustomed to fighters adhering to their whims that it seems unusual to encounter one whose focus is solely on the fight itself. To them, it might feel like a fighter neglecting their promotional duties is only fulfilling part of their role.

On the flip side, one could argue that the promoters involved in Riyadh Season are also only doing what is required of them: showing up, speaking, smiling for the cameras, and posing as if they’re fighting. Their responsibilities differ significantly when collaborating with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season compared to promoting shows funded by their own resources. The risks are minimized in Riyadh, allowing them to enjoy their roles more.

In the end, Beterbiev is doing just what’s necessary. While his terse interviews can be frustrating, they reflect the peculiar landscape boxing is navigating today. It’s also possible that Beterbiev has simply fallen out of practice; perhaps he has forgotten how to attend press conferences and deliver anything beyond standard platitudes and thank-yous to those signing his checks.

Interviews often follow a similar pattern, probing him for soundbites meant to generate social media traction or go viral rather than encouraging genuine engagement. For someone like Beterbiev—a 39-year-old man from Russia—there are few things less appealing than participating in this superficial world. While some attendees at Riyadh Season must conform to its rituals, Beterbiev, a powerful figure in boxing, has options. He wields left and right fists and boasts a perfect record of 20 knockouts in 20 fights. He doesn’t need to market himself beyond what he is: the scariest fighter on the planet.

Renowned boxing promoter and founder of Queensberry Promotions, Frank Warren, has revealed details of his conflict with Chris Eubank Jr. In an interview with @IFLTV, Warren discussed Eubank Jr.’s refusal to accept a fight against rising star Hamzah Sheeraz. According to Warren, the British boxer was upset after being publicly called out for not accepting the offer.

“He (Chris Eubank Jr) was pissed off that I called him out (for not taking the Hamzah Sheeraz fight). He said he never received the offer that was made, which is pretty surprising because the offer was made. He kept showing up with Ben Shalom and with that Maz (Mazhar Majeed) who’s his advisor, which…who’s his advisor,” Warren stated.

This comment has not only caused a stir but also sparked a debate about Eubank Jr.’s career and his willingness to face new challenges. The fight with Sheeraz, a young rising boxer, could have been a significant opportunity for Eubank Jr., but according to Warren, it was declined.Frank Warren had previously mentioned that earlier this year, Sheeraz was offered the chance to fight Mexican champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez.

However, Frank Warren argued that it was not yet the right time for Sheeraz to take such a big leap in his career. This offer was also turned down, highlighting the cautious approach taken by Sheeraz’s team in selecting the right fights.👀 Frank Warren: “(Chris Eubank Jr) was pissed off that I called him out (for not taking the Hamzah Sheeraz fight). He said he never received the offer that was made which is pretty surprising because the offer was made. He kept showing up with Ben Shalom and with that Maz… pic.twitter.com/8MXVR23sC2

— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) October 11, 2024

Meanwhile, Chris Eubank Jr. is preparing to face Kamil Szeremeta on Saturday, October 12 in Riyadh, as part of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol event. This fight represents a significant challenge for Eubank Jr., as he looks to solidify his position in the middleweight division.

In addition to his in-ring commitments, Eubank Jr. has recently made headlines due to a public confrontation with Conor Benn. The two boxers crossed paths in Saudi Arabia during the weigh-in ahead of Eubank Jr.’s fight against Szeremeta. Tension between them has escalated, and both have taken to social media to express their disagreement. Conor Benn has made clear the reasons behind his conflict with Eubank Jr., adding a new chapter to the rivalry that has been brewing between them in recent months.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol both weighed in narrowly under the light-heavyweight limit for Saturday’s undisputed title fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The leaner, narrowly taller Bivol, 33, was 174.12lbs. Beterbiev, 39 and whose ruptured meniscus forced the postponement of their sought-after contest from June 1, was 174.9lbs. 

The Russians briefly stared at each other in a demonstration of their mutual respect, before departing the stage with the same composure with which they arrived.

“I’m always like this,” Bivol told DAZN. “I’m chilled, but I’m focused also. It means a lot, but at the same time I’m trying to forget about everything I went through. I say thank you for everything, for everyone, and now I just focus on Saturday. 

“I just need to eat right, sleep, and be ready. I’m used to it. Since six years old I’ve been fighting.”

“Good, like usually,” Beterbiev responded when asked how he felt. “[My] favorite part is fighting. Like I said, we’ll see. I’m getting ready to fight.”

Their latest reluctance to express themselves led to Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn, long aligned with DAZN, again attempting to promote Saturday’s fight, and he said: “This is a generational, great fight. The best fight in the light-heavyweight division for decades. 

“Two ice-cold competitors. This is an opportunity for Dmitry Bivol to achieve a lifelong dream.” 

On October 6 2023, Liam Cameron returned from a five-year lay-off and outpointed the 2-2-2 Robbie Connor at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield.

On October 6 2024, Cameron boarded a flight to Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, he will box the Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker in Riyadh. 

Cameron’s struggles outside the ring – the harsh four-year ban he received after returning a positive test for metabolites of cocaine; the tragic loss of his step-daughter; the resultant struggles with drink and depression – are well documented but he has been rewarded for persevering where many others would have given up. 

The 33 year old may be the underdog on Saturday but he is in Saudi Arabia for a fight.

In June, and just three easy wins into his comeback, the former Commonwealth middleweight champion took what many deemed to be a gigantic step up in level against the former world-title challenger Lyndon Arthur. 

Arthur may have come unstuck in a WBA title challenge against Dmitry Bivol but he remains a terribly testing night’s work at domestic level. Cameron produced an excellent display and pushed the Mancunian to the wire before losing a close split decision. 

Cameron, 23-6 (10 KOs), is well aware that although he is a good fighter with an intriguing story, he is the opponent on Saturday. Everybody who puts a camera or microphone in his face before the fight will be polite and ask about his journey, but not many will have seriously considered the possibility of him upsetting Whittaker. 

Cameron believes that his performance against Arthur proved that he is a true, capable light heavyweight, and that his ability is being underestimated. 

“If I beat Ben, it's not the worst upset in boxing we've seen and I can really, really punch as well,” he told BoxingScene. “I don't know because I'm not the one taking them but everyone who's sparred me says I can really punch.”

“I don't know if people think I'm just a come-forward fighter. Lyndon is a devastating puncher and if I would have just walked in, he'd have knocked me clean out. And I think I got hit with about four big right hands.

“I think in the eighth round, I didn't see one coming and he whacked me and I thought, ‘Fucking hell, what was that?’ So I put my hands up, found out I was all right and then stuck my tongue out and threw about eight shots back.”

The occasion is likely to draw something out of Whittaker, 27. Nobody – maybe even Whittaker himself º knows exactly what that will be. Will he use the stage to show the world his true potential as a fighter or will he enter showman mode and try to create a spectacle?

Cameron isn’t concerned either way. He would love Whittaker to dispense with the skills that carried him to an Olympic silver medal and stand toe to toe in the centre of the ring in the Kingdom Arena but he is smart enough to know that that is unlikely to happen. Cameron is also confident enough in his abilities to believe that Whittaker will quickly realise that he can’t take the type of risks that have made him such a viral sensation.

All he can do is prepare for the best possible version of Whittaker and see what happens when the first bells rings. 

“He'll have a sharp punch and I think this is going to be Ben's best performance,” he said. ”He's going to have to go up levels himself. If he shows me any weakness I'm going to take it and it'll feed my fire.

“People watch his fights and he’s showboating and he's looking terrific. I'm not being horrible here but if I put you in a ring with me – I don't know if you’ve boxed – but if I put my hands behind my back and my trainer went, ‘Right, hit him in the face. You can't hit him back’. Probably, I'll make you miss nine times out of 10.

“This is what we're talking about and there's people deluded. You look at those highlight reels that have got three million views when he's tapping them on the head. This a hard fight for him. It's a hard fight for me as well. I'm not going to sit here and say it's not.”

In a recent interview for Fight Up TV, Conor Benn discussed his recent confrontation with Chris Eubank Jr. in Saudi Arabia. The 28-year-old British boxer did not hold back after the altercation that took place on Friday. Benn pushed Eubank Jr. in the chest, generating tension between the two.The conflict between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. is not new.

The two fighters were supposed to face each other in October 2022 in a fight that would mark the 30th anniversary of the match between their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr. However, the fight was canceled when Benn failed two voluntary doping tests. Since then, the rivalry has grown, with exchanges of words and latent tensions.

In the interview, Conor Benn recounted his version of the events that triggered the altercation. According to him, it was Eubank Jr. who approached him first. “Well, I didn’t approach him, that’s the point. He started walking toward me,” Benn explained. “If he thinks I’m going to let someone approach me like that, he’s mistaken. Nobody comes at me like that, period.” Benn made it clear that he would not allow Eubank Jr. to intimidate him, adding that the rivalry has been brewing for over two years.

“He says he was waiting for me to finish cutting weight to ‘attack me,’ but I wouldn’t be that disrespectful,” Benn continued, emphasizing his firm stance. “If you want to come up to me, don’t think I won’t tell you what I think.”

When asked about his personal opinion of Eubank Jr., Benn did not mince words. “He’s an arrogant idiot,” he said without hesitation. “He’s arrogant, he’s delusional, he’s a fool. I don’t have many good things to say about him, personally.” For Benn, Eubank Jr.’s attitude and the way he has handled things over the past two years have been unacceptable.

Benn accused Eubank Jr. of using his pain for his own benefit, referring to the difficult situation surrounding the cancellation of their fight in 2022. “I called him personally from my phone, crying, saying, ‘Chris, I’m sorry, mate.’ And he used that against me when it was very hard for me to make that call,” Benn revealed.

Benn made it clear that he is ready to face Eubank Jr. as soon as possible. “Let him sign the contract for the next fight,” Benn expressed. “I don’t need a warm-up fight.” Although he acknowledges the risk of moving up two weight classes, Benn remains confident and has no doubts about his ability to face Eubank Jr. without needing more prior fights.Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora reach agreement

“I’m a fighter, I live in the gym. I spar with light heavyweights, super middleweights, and middleweights.” He added, “For me, nothing he brings is concerning. The only thing is that I’ll have to move up two weight classes, but apart from that, I don’t consider him a top-level opponent.”

“Of course, there’s a risk; it’s dangerous to move up two weights, but I’m a fighter. I could face King Kong tomorrow if necessary,” Benn stated confidently.Controlling emotions in the ring

Despite the intensity of the rivalry, Benn admits that he fights with strong emotions, something that won’t change when they finally face off. “I fight with emotions. I fight with rage, with anger. That’s just how I am,” Benn explained. “I come out like a bull from the start.” The boxer is convinced that his aggression and fighting style will be key to defeating Eubank Jr. when the time comes.

Regarding how he sees the fight, Benn is categorical. “As soon as I land my big right hand on his huge head, it’s over.” For Benn, the outcome is clear, and all that’s left is to wait for both boxers to face each other in the ring to settle their bitter rivalry once and for all.

Now, Chris Eubank Jr. is preparing to face Polish fighter Kamil Szeremeta on Saturday in Riyadh at the Beterbiev vs. Bivol event. But the encounter with Conor Benn continues to loom in his horizon, with both showing clear intentions to resolve their differences in the ring.

Ben Whittaker has crammed a lot into eight professional fights.

The light heavyweight is an outstanding talent but it is his unique style and imaginative showboating that has made him a viral sensation. He has quickly crossed over and graduated to the stage where although a good proportion of fans buy tickets to watch him perform rather than fight, a sizeable number tune in hoping to see the Olympic silver medallist get punished. 

Pressure and attention can cause some fighters to lose their way and forget the qualities that earned them their platform in the first place. Whittaker, however, is renowned for his dedication to his chosen craft. The 27 year old is a ferocious trainer and, if you watch a full fight rather than a perfectly curated highlight reel, he generally keeps his tricks to himself until he has established a measure of control over his opponent.

“I knew it was gonna happen so I think you prep yourself from young,” Whittaker, 8-0 (5 KOs) told DAZN before he fights Liam Cameron in Riyadh on Saturday. “My style will get hated on or people will say certain things about it. It doesn’t bother me. I think the more they talk about it, the better it is for me. That’s how I look at it

“I’ve always put pressure on myself. In anything you do, I think there’s always pressure but as an elite athlete and if you want to be the top, top guy you need to have that pressure. I think that pressure makes you get better. It makes me train harder. It makes me want to do extra sessions. It makes me want to do extra reps. I think that’s what makes me the man I am.”

In June, the 33-year-old Cameron, 23-6 (10 KOs), pushed former world-title challenger Lyndon Arthur all the way before losing a split decision.

Some have wondered why – if Whittaker really is such a major talent – he isn’t facing Arthur himself rather than the opponent who came up short against him, but Whittaker has been guided sensibly so far and Cameron is a sensible match-up.

The former Commonwealth middleweight champion’s return from a four-year ban and serious personal issues is well documented. He is hungry, determined and, of all Whittaker’s opponents to date, appears the most well equipped to test his ability to fight as well as box. The fight also gives him the opportunity to gauge his performance against Arthur’s. 

Whittaker understands the process he must go through before stepping in with the division’s bigger names and, apart from the significant boost Saturday’s event will give his profile, sees plenty of benefits from facing Cameron.

“I think that’s what the journey of a professional boxer is – taking those steps,” he said. “That’s what Saturday is about. It’s another step. It’s a harder opponent. A more game opponent. When I was a young kid, you want to be an Olympic medallist but you can’t go to the Olympics right away. You need to go to the world championships and the Europeans. Learn about yourself and that’s what the pro game is too and I’m learning, I’m developing and I’m getting more confident.”

Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has firmly expressed his rejection of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, scheduled for November. In a recent interview with Michael Benson, Hearn was adamant in declaring that he will leave the stadium after watching the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, scheduled for November 15. His refusal to watch the Paul-Tyson fight was clear.

“I think it’s a huge shame that one of the biggest legends of the sport comes back 20 years after everybody knew he shouldn’t be boxing anymore. At 55 or however old he is. He’s 58? Jesus Christ, he’s nearly 60. Like, you have no respect for the sport of boxing if you put Mike Tyson in a ring at 58 years of age. And if he gets hurt, then it’s on those people… I’ll watch Katie Taylor and then I’ll leave. I can’t watch that,” Hearn said during the interview.Eddie Hearn has been a consistent critic of this fight, which he called “dangerous, irresponsible, and disrespectful to boxing.”

His main concern revolves around Tyson’s advanced age. At 58 years old, he will face an opponent 31 years younger than him, Jake Paul, who is 27. For the promoter, the age difference is one of the most alarming factors, alongside the potential health risks Tyson faces.

The fight has sparked criticism from many quarters. Boxers, analysts, and media outlets have noted that this bout is more of a spectacle than a competitive fight. Many agree it is driven by financial motives rather than sporting ones. Tyson’s iconic status in boxing and the controversial rise of Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, appear to be the main attractions of this event.

It is also worth mentioning that this fight had been postponed before due to Tyson’s health issues. For Eddie Hearn, this should have been a clear warning sign about the risks of going ahead with the fight. In his remarks, he stressed that returning to the ring at 58 is not a wise decision.

Despite his rejection of the Paul-Tyson fight, Hearn has expressed full support for Katie Taylor in her rematch against Amanda Serrano. Hearn emphasized that this fight will be the greatest challenge of Taylor’s career and is a fight of true sporting merit. However, he remains firm in his decision not to watch the main event, which he deems unnecessary and risky for Tyson’s health.Sebastian Fundora may be stripped of world title despite Terence Crawford ‘agreement’

The controversy surrounding this fight continues to grow, and as boxing fans are divided between those eagerly awaiting the spectacle and those who

Jai Opetaia believes Artur Beterbiev’s only chance of defeating Dmitry Bivol exists in him stopping his fellow Russian.

Beterbiev and Bivol will contest the undisputed light-heavyweight title at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, in an occasion that will define their careers and determine the finest heavyweight not only in Russia, but of their generation.

The 39-year-old Beterbiev, the IBF, WBO and WBC champion, for all of his boxing abilities, is widely regarded as the biggest puncher in the world, pound for pound.

Bivol, 33 and the WBA champion, established himself as one of the world’s finest boxers when in 2022 he so convincingly defeated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, then even more widely considered the finest fighter in the world.

There exists speculation that the winner of Saturday’s contest will follow becoming the undisputed champion by moving to cruiserweight to fight Opetaia, who on the undercard defends his IBF title against Jack Massey. 

The Australian has, therefore, inevitably assessed both, and told BoxingScene: “It’s a great fight. As a boxing fan, it’s one of the best fights to make at the moment. Perfect style match-up; very exciting.

“[Bivol] keeps his range; cuts angles; he’s got amazing footwork. He keeps people right at the end of his punches.

“Beterbiev’s the complete opposite. He applies such smart pressure; he’s so hard to hit. He looks easy to hit but he’s so hard to hit. He’s got a great jab; he’s got fucking power; he’s got a really good chin, and they both have really high work-rates. They obviously work hard in the gym, because you can’t fake that sort of style. To hold that level for 12 rounds, you get caught out, so they do the hard work.

“It’s exciting. If Bivol can box smart and doesn’t get clipped – if it goes to the scorecards, Bivol’s gonna win. But if somehow Beterbiev hurts him, he could win by knockout. But if it goes to the scorecards, Bivol’s got it, 100 percent.”

Opetaia was then asked about how likely he considered the prospect of him fighting the victor, and responded: “It’s been thrown up. They’ve talked about it a fair bit. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Our focus is collecting these [cruiserweight] belts, and if one of those super fights pops up on the way, we’ll take it. 

“I’d fight the winner. I think they’ll both be decent cruiserweights; they’ve got great skills for it. Boxing’s changing – it’s not about punching on. Look at the best heavyweight in the world now [Oleksandr Usyk] – he’s got the best footwork. That’s why he’s the best. 

“The sport of boxing is about moving; the punching’s the easy part, but when you start adding the footwork; the distance; ticking every box. That’s when you become world champion.”