As far as skilled boxers who possess a similar level of punch and knockout threat, there are very few on the planet as complete and dynamic as Artur Beterbiev. In contrast, it would be hard to find a champion this versatile that flies so far under the radar in terms of crossover appeal.
That reality is expected to change for Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs), the unified light heavyweight champion, should he finish 2023 by triumphing over the type of challenger he could face — namely unbeaten WBA champion Dmitri Bivol – striving to become not only the undisputed champion at 175 pounds but recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Beterbiev is the only world champion in boxing with a 100% knockout rate, returning to London’s Wembley Arena on Saturday to defend his trio of titles against mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs). The Russia native, who fights from his adopted home of Montreal, has left behind a trail of terror in his biggest title bouts, defeating Joe Smith Jr., Marcus Browne, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Callum Johnson with relative ease. has ended.
Those who know boxing at a hardcore level are familiar with Beterbiev and his excellence. But how is it that someone so destructive, even after receiving modest p4p views, has failed to make a major dent in the general consciousness? And how is it possible that he is already 38 years old?
Beterbiev was a decorated amateur who won majors at the international level, but was unable to break through in his greatest moments, losing to current unified heavyweight champion Aleksandr Usyk at light heavyweight at the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. In fact, Beterbiev didn’t turn professional until 2013 at the age of 28.
From there, Beterbiev faced a few hurdles, including a promotional feud with Yvonne Michels that saw her fight just once in a two-year span that ended in 2018. He also laid off 17 months in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic. , And even though Beterbiev has worked hard to learn English, and conducts his interviews that way, the results have been very… vanilla.
Asked this week how training had been, Beterbiev said, “I feel good, not bad” and that “my team and I always try to be ready for anything, any strategy.” Pressed for comments about a future fight with Bivol, he said, “Right now, it’s Saturday night. I can only think about Saturday night.”
Even when Beterbiev was asked how little he often spoke, the results were predictable, “You know, I don’t want to talk too much.”
Luckily for Beterbiev, those within boxing who know how extraordinary his professional run has been have no problem speaking up for him.
Former light heavyweight contender “Iceman” John Scully, who assists head trainer Mark Ramsey in Beterbiev’s corner, told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday That his fighting matches up well with any 175 pound fighter in the history of the sport.
“Artur is with any of those people,” said Scully. “Size-wise, definitely power-wise and punching technique-wise, I would say he’s right in the top echelon in terms of boxing skills and all that type of stuff. I think he’s better than any of those guys.” Fights right there.” ,
After breaking up Mitchell and a one-off fight under the Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport banners, Beterbiev signed with Hall-of-Fame promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank and the 91-year-old couldn’t help but gush when asked. Ate about his combat capability during Thursday’s final press conference.
“There are fighters today who are known for their power but I think, pound-for-pound, the greatest boxer in boxing today is [Beterbiev]said Arum, who has knocked out every opponent he has put in front of him. “It’s not because he’s not a good boxer, he is a good boxer. But he also has magic that you can’t really train a fighter for. It’s instinctive, to punch and knockout an opponent. capacity of.”
Although Beterbiev has been installed as a 9-1 favorite to beat the powerful but limited yardage, a 31-year-old slugger from England who was stopped by Sergei Kovalev in their previous title fight, the true test of Beterbiev’s career lies in this Expected to arrive from Bivol at the end of the year.
Already on the short list of the best bouts to take place in 2023, a Beterbiev-Bivol clash will proclaim the division’s first four-belt undisputed king, but don’t expect it to be easy.
Bivol may not be able to match Beterbiev’s power, but the 32-year-old Russian (who was born in Kyrgyzstan) is a boxing lover and a master at distance control. He also fresh off a Fight of the Year campaign in 2022, knocking undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez from his P4P throne before dominating 44-0 challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, an offensive compared to fans all the way Was showing urgency. Used to.
The sport of boxing is expected to have four bouts in 2023 that could go a long way in further defining the true P4P king of the sport, including Beterbiev-Bivol, Errol Spence Jr-Terence Crawford, Tyson Fury-Usick and Naoya Inoue Should Stephen Fulton Jr. and Beterbiev exceed the yardage and extend their knockout streak with one against Bivol, it will be hard to keep Beterbiev from that type of thought.
Maybe he’s a man of few words outside the ring and his window to maximize his greatness is getting smaller as he’s closing in on 40. cementing his name in the history books for a long time to come in “The Beast”.
