Who Beats Beterbiev, Bivol Last?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 Oct 2024
Both triple crown holder Artur Beterbiev and WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol - protagonists in tomorrow's first ever undisputed world light heavyweight championship in the four belt era - are undefeated as pros.
Hence, most boxing experts and pundits are divided almost at the middle as to who holds the advantage over whom, making the bout a 50-50 fight with Beterbiev possibly winning with his power and relentless pressure and Bivol with his astute boxing skills and movement as well as speed.
Perhaps it's a good idea if we go back to their respective later amateur fighting days - and who beat them last - to give us an inkling as who between Beterbiev and Bivol has the possible decided edge in their forthcoming clash.
Beterbiev last fought as amateur in the 2012 London Olympics, losing to eventual gold medal winner Oleksander Usyk of Ukraine in the quarterfinals in the heavyweight (90kg) class, 17-13. In 2011, he also lost to Usyk by the same score in the semi finals of the World Championship in the same weight class which is equivalent to the cruiserweight in the pros.
Beterbiev who was born in Kasavyurt, Russia and now residing in Montreal, Canada ended his amateur career with a record of 85 wins and 10 losses. The only other boxer to beat him twice in the amateurs was fellow Russian Mikhail Gala back in the mid 2000s.
Bivol last fought as amateur in 2014 winning the Russian national championship in the light heavyweight (81kg) division. The year before he won the gold in the World Combat Championship in the same weight class in November 2013. Unlike Beterbiev, he had not fought in any Olympics boxing tournament finishing his amateur stint with 85 wins and 7 losses.
The Kyrgyzstan-born Bivol last lost in July 2023 to fellow Russian Oleksander Vozdyk by walkover or default in the finals of the Summer Universiade Games.
For some reason, Bivol also failed to appear within the regulation time limit in losing two other amateur bouts by walkover by default including to Georgia's Iago Kaziria in the World Series of Boxing.
From the foregoing, it could be deduced that it took an Oleksander Usyk to beat Beterbiev who was also used to fighting bigger opponents at divisions as high as cruiserweight. Beterbiev also fought and beat opponents who would later be successful in the pros including then future world champions Sergei Kovalev, Vozdyk (whom he also stopped in the pros) and Yuniel Dorticos.
Meanwhile, it could be said that Bivol had not really been beaten inside the ring particularly in his later years in the amateurs as a light heavyweight.
But then looking at their respective amateur resume, I can not help but give the edge to Beterbiev who although now long on tooth has proven the adage that in a puncher, the last to go is his punching power.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press Conference Notes: Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello Ready to Trade Leather in Las Vegas Heavyweight Headliner
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Avoided Kingsley Ibeh Demands his Seat at The Heavyweight Table
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Alex Bray Signs Promotional Agreement with Boxlab Promotions
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR THE 2025 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP AVAILABLE FROM 14 APRIL
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PSME Abu Dhabi overall champion in the PTC-WED in UAE
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Apr 2025The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Marco “El Tiburón” Romero moving up to scheduled 6-round bout next
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Filipino chess phenom wins at Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Thu, 03 Apr 2025IM Bagamasbad eyes GM title in Australian Chess Circuit
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025SAMPSON BOXING SIGNS TOP UNDEFEATED LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CONTENDER ERICK BADILLO TO CO-PROMOTIONAL CONTRACT
Thu, 03 Apr 2025TURKISH KNOCKOUT ARTIST ELIF NUR TURHAN PENS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Thu, 03 Apr 2025