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Stone Cold: Beterbiev and Bivol Meet At Final Presser

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Stone Cold: Beterbiev and Bivol Meet At Final Presser
Photo Credit: Mikey WIlliams, Top Rank Boxing

Dmitry Bivol of St. Petersburg, Russia (23-0, 12 KOs) holds the WBA World Light Heavyweight title. Artur Beterbiev of Montreal, Quebec, Canada (20-0, 20 KOs) holds the WBC/WBO/IBF World Light Heavyweight belts.

One of these men will leave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with all four belts as the first unified, undisputed light heavyweight champion, marking his place in boxing history and guaranteeing entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at the final pre-fight press conference ahead of the IV Crown Showdown, Beterbiev vs Bivol at The Cube, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at the final pre-fight press conference ahead of the IV Crown Showdown, Beterbiev vs Bivol at The Cube, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

The stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s a hardcore fan’s dream, and heavyweights aside, it’s boxing’s best fight of 2024, at least on paper. The winner will become the division's first undisputed ruler of the modern era and the first since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999.

NOTE: The only place to see the main event in the U.S. is through a special one-fight presentation streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UPDATE: As of Saturday morning, the undercard is now a PPV for $19.99, a last-minute switch. It airs exclusively on DAZN Boxing. Earlier reports were accurate. DAZN is taking enormous heat on this. Only you can decide whether the fee is worth it. I will be watching and posting updates on X/Twitter.

Report From Final Pre-Fight Presser in Riyadh

The stage for the final pre-fight news conference Thursday in Riyadh featuring all fighters and promoters. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing Bivol

The stage for the final pre-fight news conference Thursday in Riyadh featuring all fighters and promoters. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

The promoters and fighters held the final pre-fight news conference in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) is boxing's only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate. He won the first of three titles in 2017 and has made eight title defenses.

Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) has made 12 defenses of his WBA belt after winning it from Trent Broadhurst in 2017, including a convincing decision over Canelo Alvarez in May 2022.

Artur Beterbiev is a man of few words. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Bivol

Artur Beterbiev is a man of few words. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Beterbiev, a native Russian of Chechen descent, is now a Canadian citizen fighting out of Montreal. He is usually a man of few words, but the few are worth hearing. “They chose me. His Excellency chose me. So, let’s do it,” said Beterbiev of the long-awaited fight. “Good fight, I think so,” adding with a laugh, “we’ll see.”

“It’s not my business {to think about other fighters}. I have a fight this Saturday. I’m only focused on this fight. I want a good fight. I’m preparing for a good fight. We’ll see.”

“Be ready, Dmitry. I will be ready,” added Beterbiev, with characteristic quiet menace.

Dmitriy Bivol promises he is focused and ready. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Dmitriy Bivol promises he is focused and ready. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Bivol, born in Krygistan and with mixed Moldovan and Korean heritage, is now based in Indio, California. Bivol has improved his command of English over the years. He’s said his success will be based on his focused preparation.

“Every time I think about my opponents, I get excited. One of them is the face of boxing (Canelo Alvarez). It was exciting to fight against this guy. Another one had around 50 fights and never lost (actually 44 fights, Gilberto Ramirez). Another guy was a champion (Lyndon Arthur, who held the IBO title).

“So (the Beterbiev fight) makes me more excited, not nervous. And Artur is a great champion. He has what I want. He has the belts. And it's not only about belts. When I look at his skills, I want to check my skills also against this amazing fighter,” explained Bivol.

“In my training camp, in my head, I always try to visualize how it will go. And there are a lot of different scenarios. Usually, that fighter will be more calm when he realizes that he's ready for everything.

“If he trains for some things in his training camp, and this happens in the ring, he's more confident in those situations. Against Beterbiev, we had to do a great camp. We had to think about different scenarios, and we did. And now I'm just curious how it will be in the ring,” said Bivol, who can satisfy his curiosity in less than 48 hours.

Hearn Pokes the Chenchen Beast Beterbiev

Artur Beterbiev takes exception to Eddie Hearn calling him 'arrogant' at Thursday's press conference. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Artur Beterbiev takes exception to Eddie Hearn calling him ‘arrogant' at Thursday's press conference. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, provoked Beterbiev by referring to him as “arrogant,” Beterbiev pushed back with a chilly smile.

“As stone cold as Artur Beterbiev is, and as stone cold as Dmitry Bivol is, there’s still that young boy that found boxing, that changed their life through boxing, that had a dream to win every belt in the sport.

“One-word answers don’t always tell me the pure emotion and meaning of what victory would mean to them Saturday night,” summed up Hearn.

The fight buildup was fueled by a delay from its original June 1 date. It had to be postponed when Beterbiev underwent knee surgery for a torn meniscus.

While Beterbiev recovered, Bivol fought substitute opponent Malik Zinad of Malta. He won by sixth-round TKO victory, his first stoppage since the 2018 TKO win over Sullivan Barrera.

Questions We Need Answered By Beterbiev vs Bivol

Artur Beterbiev shares a smile with promoter Frank Warren. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Artur Beterbiev shares a smile with promoter Frank Warren. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

  • How well has Beterbiev recovered from his knee surgery?

  • Can Bivol avoid being caught by Beterbiev’s power?

  • Will Beterbiev’s age (39) catch up with him against the younger Bivol (33)?

  • Can Bivol use footwork and finesse behind his jab to keep Beterbiev off him?

  • Who is the mentally tougher man?

  • Will either man feel the pressure and let it affect him?

  • Who has the stamina to go all 12 rounds at full steam

Dmitry Bivol celebrates his TKO win over Malik Zinad to defend his WBA and IBO Light Heavyweight World titles. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Dmitry Bivol celebrates his TKO win over Malik Zinad to defend his WBA and IBO Light Heavyweight World titles. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

One of these men will suffer his first loss. Betters believe it’s Beterbiev. The Draft Kings money line has Bivol as the slight favorite (-145), with 59% of all bets placed on Bivol to win, with Beterbiev’s odds currently at (+120). This is about as close as it gets.

The referee Is Californian Thomas Taylor. The judges are Glenn Feldman (USA), Pawel Kardyni (Poland), and Manuel Oliver Palomo (Spain).

NY Fights will offer our prediction after Friday’s weigh-in in Riyadh.

Photos From The Undercard

The rest of the undercard is being shown via DAZN in the U.S. and in the UK. You will need to make the switch to ESPN-Plus for the main event.

Fabio Wardley and Fraser Clark shared an impromptu handshake. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

On March 31, Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke fought to a wildly entertaining draw after 12 bloody rounds of action. Wardley (17-0-1, 16 KOs) and  Clarke (8-0-1, 6 KOs) will run it back for Wardley’s British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, highly prized by UK fighters.

Also on the undercard, the top fighter in the cruiserweight division, Jai Opetaia of Australia (25-0, 19 KOs), faces Jack Massey of the UK (22-2, 12 KOs), with Opetaia’s lineal/IBF cruiserweight titles on the line.

“It's a big night. I'm not expecting an easy fight. I've ticked every box going into this fight. Let's go then,” said Opetaia, who turned an icy stare toward Massey.

Massey won the Commonwealth and EBU European Cruiserweight regional titles in June with a narrow decision over Isaac Chamberlain. The Australian isn't a man you want mad at you. Massey is likely to get a thorough thrashing from the powerful Opetaia.

Chris Eubank Jr. can't bring that sword into the ring Saturday. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Chris Eubank Jr. can't bring that sword into the ring Saturday. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Chris Eubank Jr. (33-3, 24 KOs) will try to make himself relevant in a middleweight division shy on talent against the journeyman Kamil Szeremeta of Poland (25-2-2, 8 KOs). Eubank Jr. arrived in Saudi attire, complete with an impressive sword. “It's about how you lived for the last 20 years of your life. I've lived an exceptional life… There will be no banana skins, no slip-ups, and no mistakes. There will only be devastating punches and a KO to finish this fight,” promised Eubank Jr.

Ben Whittaker is never at a loss for words. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

Polarizing light heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker (8-0, 5 KOs) and Liam Cameron of Sheffield (23-6- 10 KOs) weren't afraid of getting into a verbal sparring match with each other, often taking over each other. “All the yapping's over… It's going to be an early night,” promised Whittaker. “You're cocky, man; no one likes you in British boxing,” said Cameron.

Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman will make women's boxing history on Saturday. Photo: Leigh Dawney, Queensberry Promotions

The single championship fight on the undercard is the first women’s bout since Ramla Ali fought on a Saudi card before the Riyadh Season series began. WBC World Featherweight champion Skye Nicolson of Australia (11-0, 1 KO) defends her title against Raven Chapman of England (9-0, 2 KOs). 

Young Saudi boxer Mohammed Alakel makes his professional debut in the opening four-round bout against Jesus Gonzalez of Colombia (3-2). The lightweight Alakai is trained by the respected British Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Joe Gallagher, where Alakai shares the gym with Natasha Jonas and Jack Massey.

 

 

 

 

Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist and the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). She is West Coast Bureau Chief based in San Diego, California.