IBA: Bivol Rejects Beterbiev rubber match even though double money!

Bivol is scared of the IBA and Umar Kremlev.

They are pro Kadyrov and pro Beterbiev.

Bivol doesn't want to get "robbed" or suffer a KO loss out there in Moscow. He might be seen as a Russian speaker but he is seen as a Mongol more than anything else so he won't have a huge fanbase or market value.

On the other hand, if the titles fall into Beterbiev's hands again, they can market Beterbiev well and make big money fights in Saudi or GCC countries (assuming Iran doesn't wreck them)

 

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This fight will happen when Beterbiev is 42.

Either way Bivol is guilty of conspiracy with father time. Bivol shouldn't get a medal for not stiffing Beterbiev. He already stiffed him for the insta rematch Beterbiev gave him.

 

Taking the words of Eddie Hearn seriously is laughable. He's Bivols promoter. Fact of the matter is Bivol hasn't done **** since winning the belts 1 1/2 years ago and with nothing seriously planned or talked about for the immediate future it's likely to be at least 2. Many of the same people giving Bivol a pass here would not do the same for Beterbiev. But at this point like or dislike for a fighter should be trumped by a concern for the health of the sport. Bivol has completely held up the division for almost 2 years now at the end of the day. That is an indisputable fact.

 

I have been more forgiving of Bivol then Usyk in that regard because LHW's depth is much younger. He's mostly just screwing Beterbiev.

 

I give Usyk much more of a leash because 1) road warrior for the majority of his career. 2) he unified both of his divisions decisively. Bivol never clearly separated himself from Beterbiev like many like to claim he did. At the end of the day both fights were extremely competitive and a trilogy was required. Bivol not only ducked that he held up the division entirely since. Usyk had the decency to vacates the belts so the division can move on while he figures out what he wants to do with his career.