Beterbiev vs Bivol II: Fight Preview and Betting Tips

It's the rematch fans have been desperate for, and the fight boxing needs as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol prepare to renew rivalries.

Four belts will be on the line when Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol meet again in a light heavyweight title rematch on Saturday evening.

The pair will face off at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA straps all up for grabs. Fans in the UK can follow every punch, block, and knockdown live on DAZN, Sky Sports, and TNT Sports pay-per-view.

Beterbiev upset the betting odds to win the first fight, beating Bivol on points at the same venue on Saturday, 12th October 2024. Most boxing pundits expected Bivol to live up to expectations and score a points win, although few were quick to overlook his opponent’s earth-shattering power. But at the end of 12 pulsating rounds, Beterbiev proved he’s much more than a knockout artist when using his skills to impress the judges.

Beterbiev brings a 95% KO average into Saturday’s fight, having knocked out all but one of his previous opponents in a run stretching back to 2013. The only man to last the distance with Beterbiev is the opponent facing him on Saturday evening in Saudi Arabia.

Before that, Artur had never heard the final bell, the closest being a 12th-round knockout win over Enrico Koelling at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, USA, in late 2017. Despite having limited rounds in the bank due to his concussive power in both hands, Beterbiev had no problems lasting the championship distance. He was as calculated, sharp, and dangerous in the final round as in the opening three minutes against Bivol.

Knocking Bivol out didn’t look likely for large parts of the first fight late last year, but Beterbiev knows he has a golden chance in the rematch. Stop a pound-for-pound legend like Bivol, and it would overshadow all Artur’s previous KO wins, making him the outstanding fighter in the division by a comfortable margin. The unbeaten fighter already knows he has the skills to win on points, but Team Beterbiev is aware the first meeting with Bivol was close. They won’t want to take unnecessary risks by leaving their fate in the judges’ hands.

If Beterbiev KOs Bivol he would’ve stopped every man he’s ever shared a ring with, and that will be his motivation when ducking between the ropes. Beterbiev by KO/TKO will be extremely popular with bettors and boxing lovers on Saturday evening.

Bivol is chasing revenge in Riyadh after losing his unbeaten record and status as pound-for-pound king to Beterbiev in October. The Russian will be aiming to become a two-time world champion at light heavyweight and set up a potential undisputed title decider later this year.

Bivol will be hoping to use his superior boxing skills and footwork to outclass Beterbiev once again and avoid getting drawn into a slugfest. The 34-year-old is known for his precise punching and ability to control the distance, which will be key to his chances of victory.

However, Beterbiev will be looking to impose his physicality and relentless pressure on Bivol, who has never been stopped before. The 40-year-old will be aiming to use his power and aggression to wear Bivol down and eventually force the stoppage.

It promises to be an explosive encounter between two of the best fighters in the world, and one that could have major implications for the light heavyweight division.