Jai Opetaia believes that Artur Beterbiev’s best chance of victory against Dmitry Bivol hinges on his ability to stop his fellow Russian before the final bell. Beterbiev and Bivol are set to clash for the undisputed light-heavyweight title at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight promises to define their legacies and crown not only the top light-heavyweight in Russia but also the finest of their generation.
At 39 years old, Beterbiev holds the IBF, WBO, and WBC titles and is known for his devastating punching power, widely considered among the most fearsome in the sport today. On the other hand, Bivol, aged 33 and the reigning WBA champion, solidified his place among boxing’s elite with his stunning victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2022, who was then seen by many as the world’s top fighter.
There is growing speculation that the winner of this highly anticipated bout might move up to the cruiserweight division to challenge Opetaia himself, who will be defending his IBF title on the undercard against Jack Massey. Naturally, Opetaia has carefully studied both fighters and shared his thoughts in an interview, expressing his excitement about the upcoming showdown. He praised the stylistic contrast between Bivol and Beterbiev, calling it one of the most exciting matchups currently in boxing.
“Bivol is excellent at maintaining his distance, cutting angles, and using his outstanding footwork to keep opponents at the end of his punches,” said Opetaia. “In contrast, Beterbiev applies relentless pressure, and while he may appear easy to hit, he’s deceptively elusive. His power is undeniable, and both fighters have incredible endurance. You can’t maintain such a high work rate for 12 rounds without putting in serious effort at