Dmitry Bivol says he realizes he has to try a different strategy to win his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in their fight in 60 days on February 22 in Riyadh.
Can Bevol be changed?
In order for Bivol to win the rematch, he must change his fighting style from defensive to focusing on aggression and staying in the pocket. With his fragile chin, lack of power, age, and reluctance to take a beating, Bivol is unlikely to change. He is 34 years old and quite set in his ways.
Former WBA 175-pound champion Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) doesn't come right out and say it, but he spent a lot of time running from Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) after he stunned him with a powerful uppercut in the seventh round.
Bivol (34 years old) did not show any desire to be consistent after that round, and the last five rounds were like that A long and bitter decline. It was surprising to see Bivol give up and run away, abandoning the battle and thinking only of survival; Show weakness and unwillingness to fight. Beterbiev took advantage of Bivol's reluctance to fight.
I don't know what could change in the rematch. When a fighter feels fear, as Bivol has shown, that doesn't change in a rematch. This fear still exists. You get the same results in a rematch, and the fans go home unhappy.
Turki Alashikh should have faced Beterbiev against David Benavidez, Joshua Buatsi or David Morell instead of setting up a rematch with Bivol. Dimitri should have earned the rematch by passing one or two of these fighters instead of having it given to him after losing.
The results were 116-112, 115-113 for Beterbiev, and 114-114. Some boxing fans felt that 116-112 was too wide, but it reflected how Bivol couldn't stand up and fight. He used a striking and lunging technique, which showed that he was not ready to fight. Not surprisingly, Bivol's punches lacked power because his mind was focused on escaping. In other words, Bivol was just screwing up.
Sixty days to change
Dmitry's fans believed he had done enough to deserve the win, but it was clear to everyone that Beterbiev was dominating the final six rounds, giving him a scare. Beterbiev exposed Bivol's lack of courage under fire. We've already seen Bivol look scared when he hurt Lyndon Arthur in the eighth round on December 23, 2023.
“I have another chance and he (Turki Al-Sheikh) told me this date the day after the fight. He wanted to do the rematch on this date. He asked me, he asked Beterbiev who said yes, and from that day I think I will have this opportunity again,” said Dmitry Bivol. Other”. Fighthype About getting another chance to fight Artur Beterbiev.
“Of course I need to do something different and I know what I will add, I know what I will change a little.”
Rabbit and wolf
Turk gave Bivol another chance, but it would only help him if he fought with more heart, and stopped being the timid rabbit he was last time. Beterbiev was chasing him around the ring like a wolf in the latter half of the fight, and Bivol appeared to have given up. He was just hoping to win an ugly decision.
