Comments Thread For: Artur Beterbiev: 'I need to do more training on my skills as a boxer'

[deathofaclown]

yeah i kinda had the same view, but Beterbiev could suddenly age overnight, long am career...nearly 40...lots of recent injuries etc

If there's a style to make you look 40, it's a younger boxer with excellent boxing skills and the best distance control in a boximg

[Mic_Rob]

It's the knee surgery for me... Matchup is going to be really tough for Beterbiev, Bivol may end up looking levels above if they end up fighting his type of fight. I don't suspect that Beterbiev can one-shot Bivol.

A Bivol stoppage had a nice betting line last June- but probably shrinks up closer to a true probability for the new fight date.

[crimsonfalcon07]

I really appreciate his attitude. He's one of the few who just grinds hard all the time, and no matter his accomplishments or age, always feels like he's got more to learn. I think that's part of why he's so old for a boxer but still doesn't look like he's getting old. One of the most common boxer flaws is thinking that they know it all and don't have room to improve.

People are underestimating both, IMO. I think Artur has more ways to win and is underrated for his skill, but a lot of people don't understand WHY Bivol is a great fighter, because to someone who doesn't study the sweet science, he doesn't have any power and he looks like he just throws basic combinations and bounces around.

However, to those who DO study the art of boxing, they can see that he's elite at certain advanced skills, and he's so good that he makes it look easy so it's easy to miss. Things like timing and ring awareness. He's one of the hardest guys in the sport to pin against the ropes, because he knows exactly where he is in the ring at all times, and he's absolutely stellar at throwing a blinding combo right as the opponent takes a step into range so he can exit. They're just barely in range at that point, and so they have to be able to guess which direction he's going to go and lunge if they want to cut him off.

He's also brilliant at knowing when to press. When Beterbiev fought Smith, Smith literally walked his own butt to the ropes and sat on them. Whenever he actually pushed Beterbiev back, Beterbiev didn't throw a single punch. Not ONE on the back foot. Artur won't be able to fight that way vs Bivol. Bivol knows how and when to press back the bigger guy and doesn't let them rest, and can go 12 at the same pace, since that's what he does every fight. That's another factor that could make Beterbiev look like he aged overnight.

X-factors are that Beterbiev knows the style of Bivol, and is perfect at legally landing his signature shot behind the ear. He has landed that shot shortly before the finish in every one of his fights, and it's clearly very disorienting. I seriously doubt Bivol can avoid it for 12 rounds, so the question for me is how he'll take it. The other question is who will win the jab battle. Artur has a 1" reach advantage. Whichever is able to establish their jab most effectively will likely win the fight, IMO.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Both guys have great skills. I can`t wait to see this fight.

I still think Bivol wins UD or late stoppage. But if Beterbiev wins, I will have to respect him even more.