Artur Beterbiev Calls Out Dmitry Bivol for Allegedly Lying About Fight Plans After Face-Off
The highly anticipated clash between light-heavyweight champions Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed title is a fight that boxing fans have long been clamoring for. Both fighters, undefeated in the 175lb division, have established themselves as top contenders, consistently rising to meet the challenges thrown at them. Dmitry Bivol has showcased his mastery of the sport by defeating formidable opponents like Saul 'Canelo' Álvarez and Gilberto Ramirez, demonstrating his exceptional boxing skills. On the other hand, Artur Beterbiev has a remarkable record as the only active world champion who has ended every fight with a stoppage, most recently dispatching Anthony Yarde in London. The face-off between the two champions took place in Saudi Arabia, where they were present to witness the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou spectacle. However, Beterbiev, speaking to Boxing King Media, expressed doubts about Bivol's sincerity regarding their potential bout, suggesting that Bivol has made similar claims in the past without following through. Beterbiev stated, "He said like this two, three years ago. He wants to fight next with me, but he never fights me. He's lying." He further clarified that his main focus was on acquiring Bivol's WBA belt, not necessarily on fighting Bivol for the sake of his name on the record. "Of course. I don't want to fight him [specifically.] I need only one thing from him: the belt. That's it." However, there is a significant obstacle to overcome in the form of the WBC's position on sanctioning Russian fighters, which would affect a potential fight involving Bivol. Beterbiev, who was born in Dagestan but holds Canadian citizenship, is set to face the number one contender, Callum Smith, in Quebec on January 13. The road to a showdown between Bivol and Beterbiev remains filled with challenges, but the desire for the fight lingers, fueled by the prospect of a true clash of champions in the light-heavyweight division. Boxing enthusiasts will continue to eagerly await developments in this potentially historic matchup.
