Artur Beterbiev recognizes he needs a new game plan heading into his rematch against Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight championship this Saturday in Riyadh. In their first encounter, Beterbiev admits he let Bivol control the early rounds and build a lead. He believes “doing everything different” could make the difference between victory and another close call.
Fans recall that in October, Bivol’s movement and steady jab left Beterbiev struggling to apply his usual pressure until the later rounds. According to boxing analyst Johnny Nelson, Bivol will need to maintain constant footwork and punching output to keep the powerful Beterbiev from marching him down. Of course, that high-pace strategy could drain Bivol’s stamina in the second half, much like it did in their first fight, opening the door for a late surge by Beterbiev.
Beterbiev’s plan likely revolves around setting a faster tempo right away, cutting off the ring, and forcing Bivol into close-quarters exchanges where his power shines. If he can break Bivol’s rhythm early, he may not face the same scoreboard deficit that nearly cost him last time. Expect a focused, urgent Beterbiev, who wants to close the show in style against the one man he couldn’t dominate from the opening bell.
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