Artur Beterbiev insists he’ll do "something different" in Saturday’s rematch against Dmitry Bivol to avoid the close call that sparked so much debate last October. Their clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will decide whether Beterbiev remains the undisputed light heavyweight king - or if Bivol can avenge his only loss. Beterbiev says winning by knockout would end the controversy once and for all, silencing critics who believe Bivol was robbed.
Promoter Eddie Hearn still maintains that Bivol deserved the nod last fall, scoring it 9-3 in his fighter’s favor. Yet Beterbiev’s tenacious pressure seemed to take over from the midpoint onward, swinging the judges his way. Hearn remains adamant that Bivol must up his punch output to claim victory this time, though he acknowledges that Beterbiev looked sharp at the final press conference.
Watch the weigh-in live here: Watch
Beterbiev has also faced questions about his next move. Plenty of fans in socials want him to face the all-action David Benavidez in a must-see war, rather than a potential trilogy with Bivol if the score remains unsettled. The idea of Beterbiev-Benavidez has excited many who crave constant toe-to-toe exchanges. However, Team Beterbiev knows the job at hand is to once again tame Bivol’s stick-and-move style on Saturday night.
Will “something different” translate into a punishing knockout for Beterbiev, or can Bivol’s refined approach lead to the redemption he - and Eddie Hearn - feel is overdue? Either way, fans hope the rematch delivers a definitive outcome. With both fighters promising maximum effort under the lights in Riyadh, the stage is set for a spectacular sequel.
Learn more about this event here.
Image Credit: DAZN