2024-10-13 03:05:05
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are no threat to break revenue records when they fight Saturday for the unified light heavyweight title. But what the two Russian-born boxers lack in box-office appeal, they make up for with talent.
Loads of talent.
Beterbiev has power – thus, the 20-0 record with 20 knockouts.
Bivol has footwork and finesse – thus the 23-0 record. While he has just 12 KOs, he does boast an upset victory over Canelo Alvarez in 2022.
Both rank as high as No. 4 and no lower than No. 7 in pound-for-pound rankings generated by The Ring, ESPN, The Sporting News and CBS Sports.
“Woo,’’ Mike Tyson told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday when asked about the fight. “I just think Beterbiev’s gonna do well. I’m a big fan of his. I’m being biased, it’s not fair to ask me that question.”
The question, of course, is who will prevail? What should be considered:
The fight was set for June and postponed because Beterbiev needed knee surgery to repair a ruptured meniscus. Bivol, 33, may possess better stamina than Beterbiev, 39. But Beterbiev owns two of boxing’s most dangerous fists.
“”This is it,” said Eddie Hearn, Bivol’s promoter. “This is the moment for both men.”
Frazer Clarke was diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone after being examined at a hospital following a first-round knockout loss to Fabio Wardley, promoter Frank Warren told DAZN.
The injury appeared to take place when Clarke was struck by the final blow, a powerful right in their heavyweight bout.
Wardley ended the heavyweight fight in the first round with a ferocious right hand that not only dropped Clarke but also left him getting oxygen.
It ended with a barrage of punches, and the referee waved off the fight with 32 seconds left in the first round.
Pounded by Wardley’s final right, Clarke dropped onto his right knee. He stayed in the corner as medical staff gave him oxygen for a few minutes before Clarke rose to his feet, found Wardley and they embraced.
It was a rematch of their fight in March that ended in a split draw.
Wardley, a 29-year-old Brit, improved to 18-0-1 and Clarke, a 33-year-old Brit, fell to 8-1-1.
Scheduled for 12 rounds
Round 1: The heavyweights come out throwing jabs. Clarke following up with rights now. They get tangled and Clarke uses the opportunity to deliver a few punches. Wardley connects with a flurry and down goes Clarke! It’s over. Clarke’s jaw looks askew. That may be a broken jaw, the result of a hard right.
Clarke in the corner getting oxygen.
Opetaia threw a boatload of punches, and Massey’s corner threw in the towel — in the sixth round of their cruiserweight fight.
At one point, Massey was bleeding from the nose, near the eye and spit out blood and the referee promptly accepted Massey’s corner asking to end the fight.
Opetaia, the 29-year-old Australian, defended his IBF world cruiserweight title and improved to 26-0.
Massey, a 31-year-old Brit, fell to 22-3.
Scheduled for 12 rounds
Round 1: Opetaia stalking and Massey counterpunching. Opetaia works Massey into a corner and scores. Massey circling, but not fast enough to avoid Opetaia’s punches. Massey lands a couple of punches, but Opetaia has dominated the round. Opetaia 10, Massey 9.
Round 2: Massey comes out aggressively. Opetaia counters and lands a stiff right hook. Opetaia still leading with the left, effectively. Massey fighting back. Opetaia strikes to the body, has Massey backed into a corner again. Opetaia 20, Massey 18.
Round 3: Massey catches Opetaia early, but Opetaia ramps up the attack. Massey counters with a right and then eats three punches. Opetaia works Massey into a corner and scores late in the round. Opetaia 30, Massey 27.
Round 4: Massey’s face is clearly swollen. Now he’s bleeding from the bridge of his nose. Opetaia smelling blood? He’s marching forward again. Massey counters, not soon enough and decisively enough to win the round. Opetaia 40, Massey 36.
Round 5: Opetaia promptly works Massey into a corner and fires away, the confident aggressor. Massey firing back, but nothing slows Opetaia and the blood is flowing from Massey’s nose again. Opetaia punishing Massey on the ropes. Opetaia 50, Massey 45.
Round 6: Opetaia connects with combinations. Massey comes alive despite bleeding from the nose and eye. Opetaia whaling away again, and Massey’s corner throws in the towel! It’s over. Opetaia is victorious.
Eubank knocked down Szeremeta four times and finished him off in the seventh round of their middleweight bout with a body shot.
The referee waved off the one-sided fight after the final knockdown.
Eubank, the 35-year-old Brit, improved to 34-3 and set himself up for a fight with Conor Benn, a former two-time champion.
In fact, moments after the fight ended, Benn climbed into the ring and exchanged trash talk with Eubank. They continued to exchange words after the outcome of the fight was announced.
Szeremata, the 35-year-old from Poland, fell to 25-3.
Scheduled for 12 rounds
Round 1: Eubank out quick with the left jab. Spices it up with a left hook and then a right floors Szeremeta! He’s down. Szeremeta back on his feet and ties up Eubank. They’re untangled and Eubank goes back to work with both hands. Back comes Szeremeta! Lands a shot that sends Eubank reeling, but Eubank steadies himself as the round ends. Eubank 10, Szeremeka 8.
Round 2: Szeremeta was down, but he’s not out. Active early in the round. But he struggles to keep pace with Eubank, who lands a solid uppercut. Eubank hammering away, but Szeremeta fighting back. Eubank 20, Szeremeta 17.
Round 3: Eubank aggressive. Szeremeta responds, but Eubank solid on his feet. Eubank bleeding from the right eyebrow, the result of an accidental headbutt. Szeremeta yanks Eubank down to the canvas. That’s not the knockdown he needs. Eubank 30, Szeremeta 26.
Round 4: Eubank pounding Szeremeta, moving him backward as he lands punches. Szeremeta survives the barrage and lands a couple of shots, which does not slow Eubank. Eubank 40, Szeremeta 35.
Round 5: Eubank and Szeremeta land punches to the head that land simultaneously. Szeremeta lands some hard punches in what was his best round, but Eubank closes with another hard right. Eubank 50, Szeremeta 44.
Round 6: Szeremeta lands a hard right, but Eubank responds with a flurry, and down goes Szeremeta again! For the second time of the bout, and this time Szeremeta is floored by a Eubank right hand. But he’s back up and makes it to the end of the bell. Eubank 60, Szeremeta 53.
Round 7: Eubank unleashes a flurry — and knocks down Szeremeta with a right! Down for the third time! And up again and the right resumes. And down again! The fight is waved off. It’s Eubank by TKO.
Nicolson retained her WBC featherweight championship and improved to 12-0 with a convincing victory over Chapman.
A 29-year-year Australian, Nicolson played the matador, sidestepping Chapman as she bulled forward. And Nicolson tattooed Chapman with her signature left during the 10-round lightweight fight.
The judges scored it 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 in favor of Nicolson.
Chapman, a 30-year-old Brit, fought aggressively but could not land enough punches as she fell to 9-1.
Scheduled for 10 rounds
Round 1: Chapman out quick, bouncing on her feet and darting in and out while throwing jabs. Nicolson connects with a hard left. Nicolson evades a right and lands one of her own. Nicolson 10, Chapman 9.
Round 2: Chapman emerges as the aggressor again, but many of her punches are falling short of the target, with Nicolson proving to be evasive. But Nicolson looking inactive before landing a solid right late in the round. Nicolson 19, Chapman 19.
Round 3: Chapman lands early and connects with the body. But Nicolson delivers a stinging left and another. Then a right. Nicolson taking control. Nicolson 29, Chapman 28.
Round 4: Nicolson lands the left — a couple of straights and a hook. Then Nicolson evades a big right. Chapman charges in with a right, but Nicolson responds with a left. Nicolson 39, Chapman 37.
Round 5: Nicolson content to maintain distance and throw the occasional left. Chapman struggling to close the gap. But Chapman lands a right, only to eat a few punches at the end of the round. Nicolson 49, Chapman 46.
Round 6: Nicolson the matador, mostly sidestepping punches when Chapman bulls forward. The matador is landing more punches too. Nicolson 59, Chapman 55.
Round 7: It’s more of the same, with a lack of action but Nicolson landing more. Nicolson 69, Chapman 64.
Round 8: Chapman advancing. Nicolson retreating. But Nicolson landing most of the shots despite a couple of late ones from Chapman. Nicolson 79, Chapman 73.
Round 9: Chapman connects with a right, but no knockout power – and that’s what she’ll need. But she lands another right. Swings for the fences but misses. Nicolson looks content to protect her obvious leads on the scorecard. Nicolson 88, Chapman 83.
Round 10: Chapman comes out looking for the KO, but marches into a few Nicolson punches. Nicolson evading Chapman and dominating the round. Nicolson 98, Chapman 92.
At the end of the fifth round, Whittaker and Cameron both tumbled over the top of the ropes. Whittaker was loaded onto a wheelchair and taken to the locker room, ending the light heavyweight bout before the scorecards were announced.
The judges scored it a technical draw. One judge scored it 58-57 for Whittaker and the third judge scored it 58-57.
Whittaker, a 27-year-old Brit, is 8-0-1 and Cameron, a 33-year-old Brit, is 23-6-1.
Scheduled for 10 rounds
Round 1: Whittaker comes out the aggressor, popping Cameron in the face with jabs. A wide swing and a miss from Cameron with the left. Lots of misses from Cameron. Whittaker shows good defense, and on offense he stays active and on target. Whittaker 10, Cameron 9.
Round 2: Cameron comes out of his corner firing jabs, then catches Whittaker with a combination. Whittaker responds and now the boxers are trading exchanges. Whittaker shows quickness, Cameron shows more power. Whittaker 20, Cameron 18.
Round 3: Whittaker connects with a big right early. Cameron connects with a left and Whittaker backpedals. Cameron delivers with a left and sticks out his tongue. More power from Cameron. Whittaker 29, Cameron 28.
Round 4: Even more pronounced, Whittaker is the sharpshooter and Cameron the slugger. Cameron digs into Whittaker’s body, then lands a flurry shots to the head. Whittaker 38, Cameron 38.
Round 5: Whittaker fires a flurry, but Cameron fires back with a fight and a left hook. Whittaker marching forward, has drawn blood from Cameron’s nose. Whittaker warned for low blows. Cameron finishes the round strong. Cameron has Whittaker pressed against the ropes, and the fighters tumble over the ropes and outside of the ring! Both look injured. Cameron is up and Whittaker, who seems to have injured his right leg, is lying on his back in his corner. Whittaker unable to continue. Cameron 48, Whittaker 47.
“Mighty’’ Mohammad Alakel of Saudi Arabia was mighty enough his pro debut. Equipped with a solid left and a respectable right, Alakel controlled most of the action during a four-round lightweight fight.
All three judges scored the fight 40-36.
Gonzalez, a Colombian, fell to 3-3 and Alakel is now 1-0.
Flores suffered his 26th loss in a row, this one to Maric, who was making his pro debut in a four-round super welterweight fight.
All three judges scored it 40-36, but more remarkable than the action in the ring is Flores’ record.
The 32-year-old from Mexico fell to 14-46-2, while Maric, a native of Switzerland who lives in California, is now 1-0.
The Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight is Saturday.
The undercard starts at 9 a.m. ET. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol is expected to start at about 6 p.m. ET.
ESPN+ and DAZN.
The main event requires a subscripton to ESPN+ but no additional fee. The undercard on DAZN costs $19.99 and a subscription to DAZN.
Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anson Wainwright, The Ring: “Beterbiev will inch his way forward, slowly turning the screws and start to come into things in the second half of the fight. I think as we head toward the championship rounds, Bivol will be tiring and Beterviev, in a similar manner to how he beatdown Oleksandr Gvozdyk, will get a late stoppage.’’ Prediction: Beterbiev by TKO, 10th round.
Tom Gray, The Sporting News: “I’ve decided to roll with Bivol because he’s fresher and harder to nail cleanly. Beterbiev’s body seems to be breaking up on him a little and he turns 40 years old in January while Bivol is still in his prime at 33.” Prediction: Bivol by unanimous decision.
Brian Fonseca, Action Network: “Bivol is more balanced and will be able to navigate the sustained pressure against his older opponent, who had this bout delayed for months due to meniscus surgery.” Prediction: Bivol by decision.
Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clark, heavyweight
Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey, cruiserweight, for IBF title
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamil Szeremeta, middleweight
Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman, featherweight, for WBC title
Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron, light heavyweight
Mohammed Alakel vs. Jesus Gonzalez, lightweight
Marco Maric vs. Christian Flores, super welterweight
6-0
6-0
174.9 pounds at the weigh-in.
174.12 pounds at the weigh-in.
Bet365: Bivol -125, Beterbiev +110
DraftKings: Bivol -145, Beterviev +120
BetMGM: Bivol -125, Beterviev +110
Caesars Sportsbook: Bivol -120, Beterbiev +100
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