Bivol promises more aggressive approach in rematch with Beterbiev

Dmitry Bivol says his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev on February 22 will be “more open” because he is familiar with his former conqueror. Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) doesn’t say what he means by “more open,” but for his sake, he needs to be more aggressive, stay in the pocket, hold less and fight in the second half.

Bivol says it is learned from defeat and it will be different in the rematch. If that is true, it will be an exciting fight this time because his lack of commitment was missed in his previous encounter with Beterbiev.

The flesh was willing, but the mind was weak. Bivol has the power, speed and skills to win, but he must overcome the mental block that prevented him from trading.

Bivol’s new strategy

Bivol is working hard and training for the rematch, but needs more mental adjustment than physical adjustment. He must convince himself to fight more aggressively in the rematch with Beterbiev. Bivol’s hit and run The style didn’t work last time and probably won’t work this time.

Undisputed heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) will defend against Bivol on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV.

Bivol must change something in the rematch to have a chance of winning. His cautious approach to boxing in their first fight on October 12 will not work against Beterbiev in the rematch.

Betebriev will also take a different approach to the rematch. He will probably pressure Bivol from the first round instead of waiting until the sixth, like he did last time.

He made the mistake of letting Bivol get the better of him in the first five rounds by not attacking and showing too much respect. Bivol woke up Beterbiev in the sixth round when he hit him with a four-punch combination.

That seemed to anger Beterbiev and kickstart his competitive spirit. From that moment on he was constantly attacked. For the last seven rounds, Bivol moved, clinched and did nothing to win. It wasn’t that he had run out of gas. He felt Beterbiev’s power and did not want to be eliminated.

The Bivol team and its promoter, Eddie Hearn, did not want to accept the loss. They complained and didn’t help. Bivol had failed and the judges made it clear. Beterbiev attacked relentlessly, looking like a shark chasing its prey, and Bivol did not want to be cut down. Then, he moved non-stop and the judges took note and gave the score to Beterbiev.

The scores were 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114. I had it 117-111 for Beterbiev. Bivol appeared to win three rounds and was useless for the final nine rounds.

Learning from defeat

“You learn to feel more comfortable in the ring with this guy. In the second fight, I think maybe it will be a more open fight. “I can’t find excuses because I won’t prepare for the next fight,” Dmitry Bivol told Fight Hub TVtalking about his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in 58 days on February 22.

“Of course it’s good. He has power. Not only is he a powerful boxer, but he also has good skills,” Bivol said when asked if Beterbiev is as good as people say. “I think it will be at least as interesting, but I’m sure it will be better (the second fight).

“We know each other. We won’t start from the beginning. We know some things about each other and it will be a more open fight. It is possible to fight anyone in the division, but first I want a rematch,” Bivol said when asked if he would be interested in fighting David Benavidez.

Battle preparations ⚔️🔥#BetterbievBivol2 | February 22, live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/sH9C9r6eIL

– DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 26, 2024