Move over Fury vs Usyk I, the real fight of the year is finally here with IBF, WBC and WBO world light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev finally set to face IBO and WBA boss at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday evening.
Beterbiev is the 5/4 underdog in the fight winner betting, despite all 20 victories of his unbeaten professional career coming by knockout ,including two against reigning world title holders.
Bivol is 4/6 favourite despite having claimed a modest 12 of the 23 victories on his equally perfect paid-ranks resume by way of stoppage. However, while he may lack his older foe’s firepower, that could prove an advantage for punters looking to back him at odds-against.
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol Prediction
Bivol to win on points @ 11/10
Bet on the latest boxing odds
Bivol style all wrong for opponent recovering from serious knee injury
There will be plenty of punters for whom 39-year-old Artur Beterbiev’s stoppage strewn rap-sheet lends a hint of value to the 5/4 about victory for the Montreal-based monster.
However, in Bivol the Russia-born puncher faces an opponent whose studied ring-craft could provide the antidote to his stalking, come-forward style.
Bivol’s ability to manipulate and cut off angles of attack and defence behind the stiff and accurate jab that completely flummoxed Saul Alvarez has been enough to unravel every one of his 23 pro-career victims. Let’s not forget the only other fighter to have gotten the better of Canelo was unbeaten great Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Beterbiev’s immense power will be difficult to deploy effectively against such a mobile and astute mover, even before the ruptured meniscus he suffered in May is taken into account.
Such a serious injury is certain to have made some kind of lasting mark, especially on a fighter of the IBF, WBC, and WBO strap holder’s veteran status. The extent to which it has is certain to be highlighted by the elite movement of an opponent six years his junior.
Bivol’s lack of championship KO power the surest aspect of this fight
The 4/6 available on offer about a Bivol win feels skinny enough for most tastes given Beterbiev’s storied ability to turn out the lights.
Ironically harnessing the Kyrgyzstan-born boxers’ lack of KO force looks the obvious route to backing him at a more palatable price.
Prior to Bivol’s sixth-round stoppage of hopelessly-overmatched late Beterbiev replacement Malik Zinad in June, nine successive opponents had taken the 33-year-old the distance.
Beterbiev, for his part has come back from knockdowns to win twice previously against Jeff Page Jr and Callum Johnson and can be relied upon to take this to the scorecards even if, as expected, he is outboxed.
