Artur Beterbiev is preparing for his highly anticipated rematch against Dmitry Bivol, set for February 22nd in Riyadh, and the undisputed light heavyweight champion is confident that changes in his training will make him 10% better than before. The undefeated Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) is staying tight-lipped about the specific areas he’s improved but is certain that it will make for a more dynamic and exciting fight.
“I hope to be better in this fight than I was in the first one,” Beterbiev told talkSport Boxing. “We changed some things up in training. Before I was undisputed, I wanted to get a fourth belt. Now, I want to keep them.”
While Beterbiev won the first encounter with Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) via decision in 2022, he felt that the fight lacked excitement, with Bivol retreating to avoid his power punches. Beterbiev plans to push the action even more in the rematch, putting constant pressure on Bivol and forcing him into a more aggressive stance.
“I’ll be attacking nonstop, making him either fight or flee,” Beterbiev said. “Last time, he chose to flee, which saved him from being knocked down, but he still lost because he was focused on survival. I expect him to do the same again, but I’ll make it harder for him this time.”
Despite the setback in their first fight, commentators praised Bivol for his early success with his jab and quick combinations. Beterbiev started slowly but gained control after round six, dominating the second half of the fight. The judges scored the contest in Beterbiev’s favor, with two giving him the win and one scoring it a draw. Now, Beterbiev believes that their familiarity with each other will make this rematch much more intriguing.
“I hope and believe it’ll be a more interesting fight because now we know each other,” he said.
Bivol, who is 34, may try to employ more holding tactics to neutralize Beterbiev’s power, as many observers have suggested he should have done more in their first encounter. However, Beterbiev’s relentless pressure and improved skill set could prove overwhelming once again.
As for his future plans, Beterbiev is open to possible opportunities but remains focused on the task at hand. When asked about moving up to cruiserweight or facing stars like Canelo Alvarez or Jai Opetaia, Beterbiev said, “I can take any fight if I have different offers. I will check with my team and take it.”
For now, Beterbiev’s priority is defending his undisputed light heavyweight status and proving that he has indeed improved for his rematch with Bivol. He’s confident that his changes in training will make a difference and that this time, the fight will be more exciting for fans.
“With a 10% improvement, I’ll be much better,” Beterbiev said. “You’ll see the difference.”
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