WBA 175-lb champion Dmitry Bivol has formally dedicated to a monumental showdown for the sunshine heavyweight undisputed championship in Saudi Arabia in 2024 towards IBF/WBC/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev.
This eagerly anticipated conflict has been a long-standing want for Bivol, who has incessantly voiced his ambition for the undisputed title since his conquer Canelo Alvarez final 12 months. Together with his signature on the contract, Bivol now awaits Beterbiev‘s profitable consequence in his subsequent bout for the battle to materialize.
The trail to this historic confrontation presents a big problem for Beterbiev, who should overcome his #1 WBC necessary, Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), on January thirteenth on the Centre Videotron in Quebec Metropolis.
The result of this encounter will decide the destiny of the much-anticipated face-off between Beterbiev and Bivol. Smith, a formidable opponent standing at 6’4″ and within the prime of his profession since shifting as much as the 175-pound division in 2021, poses a real menace to Beterbiev.
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev ‘face one another’ on the gala dinner for the Fury-Ngannou battle
Has there been affirmation of the Bivol/Beterbiev bout?
ESPN’s Dan Rafael penned a report which confirms that the 33-year-old Bivol has fulfilled his a part of the contract, setting the stage for a possible conflict that boxing fans have anticipated for the previous six years.
Nevertheless, the delay in making this battle occur might influence its significance, with Beterbiev now in his late 30s and exhibiting indicators of slowing down over the past two years. There may be additionally a scarcity of an official signature from Beterbiev.
If the showdown does materialize, questions come up concerning the diminished spectacle as a result of Beterbiev’s age and the challenges he faces towards a youthful, quicker opponent in Bivol.
The long-standing Beterbiev-Bivol battle is likened to different matchups that ought to have occurred of their prime, reminiscent of Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder or Joshua vs. Tyson Fury, now unfolding when the fighters are of their mid-30s and fewer prolific.
Bivol’s latest victory over Lyndon Arthur showcased his prowess, however the looming conflict with Beterbiev holds added significance because it might outline the following chapter within the mild heavyweight division.
Nevertheless, there’s an surprising wildcard within the type of Callum Smith, who, if profitable towards Beterbiev, might alter the undisputed championship panorama. The potential staging of a Bivol-Smith bout in 2024 in Saudi Arabia stays unsure, with Smith’s status within the U.S. marked by a difficult loss to Canelo Alvarez and a controversial win over John Ryder, revealing vulnerabilities in high-pressure conditions.
