This Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a significant boxing event will take place that promises to determine not only the best light heavyweight in the world but possibly the best in the category for a generation. Artur Beterbiev, the only champion in boxing with a perfect knockout ratio, will put his WBC, WBO, and IBF titles on the line against Dmitry Bivol, who will defend his WBA belt in a highly anticipated matchup.
Beterbiev and Bivol have dominated the light heavyweight scene for the past seven years, but various obstacles have delayed their fight. According to ESPN rankings, Bivol is currently ranked No. 4 while Beterbiev is No. 6 in the pound-for-pound category.
The fight, initially scheduled for June but postponed due to Beterbiev’s knee surgery, is now just three months away from his 40th birthday. Fans have been eager for a showdown between these top fighters, as undisputed championship matches often fail to showcase the best in the class due to boxing’s complicated title structure.
Throughout history, there have been significant bouts that required years to finalize, such as Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury. In contrast, some bouts have ended up being less competitive, where favored boxers quickly collected titles without much resistance.
Bivol expressed the weight of this fight, stating it represents the pinnacle of their boxing careers and serves as validation for their hard work. Beterbiev agreed, emphasizing the importance of claiming the title of undisputed champion in boxing.
Roy Jones Jr. holds the title of the last undisputed light heavyweight champion in the three-belt era. While some champions are widely recognized before officially unifying titles, like Naoya Inoue and Canelo Alvarez, the Beterbiev-Bivol matchup is essential for establishing supremacy in the division.
However, being labeled as undisputed is often short-lived due to the unpredictable nature of the sport’s politics. Champions frequently vacate titles or move up in weight classes after achieving unified status.
The current promotional environment adds another layer of complexity to this matchup, as Beterbiev is with Top Rank and Bivol with Matchroom, complicating broadcasting arrangements. Saturday’s event will have ESPN+ streaming the main fight while DAZN will broadcast the undercard.
Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman, played a critical role in bringing this bout to fruition amidst the disagreements between promoters. Alalshikh has gained recognition for orchestrating major boxing events in the region.
The fight almost materialized in 2022 but was delayed due to Bivol’s opportunity to challenge Canelo Alvarez, whom he defeated. Since then, Bivol has continued to defend his title while fans awaited the long-anticipated clash with Beterbiev.
As the fighters prepare for this historic encounter, fans anticipate a classic battle between a powerful puncher and a skilled boxer. If Bivol succeeds in neutralizing Beterbiev’s power and secures all four belts, he will affirm that all of his efforts in boxing were worthwhile.