I get why they're doing a third one but honestly I'm not that excited anymore. Bivol already beat Beterbiev twice, he should fight Benavidez or Smith instead. Would rather see Beterbiev move up and fight Opetaia. Delaying it further only means whatever Beterbiev shows up will be even more aged (unless he glugs down a few more pints of that 'inconclusive finding' that is...).
Considering Beterbiev's history, it's a wonder the second fight wasn't delayed. That also means we won't see either of them in the ring again this year. Now, I wish Bivol would have agreed to fight Benavidez.
Beterbiev battered and brutalized Bivol in the first fight, he also won rounds 4, 5, 6, 10, 12 in the rematch. To tell the truth, Bivol was about to be knocked out in the 12th in the rematch, he was glad there wasn't a 13th round. I think Beterbiev will blow Bivol into bits in the 3rd fight.
Putting my promoter head on now There's not much enthusiasm for 3rd fight Let's make the guys fight someone else in the meantime so they can stay sharp and not put on flat performances a year later after their last fight.... ...Beterbiev faces someone like Morrel (and KOs him savagely) Bivol faces Callum Smith and comfortably UDs him (Yarde fight has fallen through for Smith for some reason....) The public realise these two are actually the number 1 and 2 and everyone else is a level below Rematch gets a bit more hype behind it again. Winner faces Benavidez. I hope it's Beterbiev because it's a more fan friendly fight and Bivol can get a chance at Canelo again. Beterbiev KOs Benavidez and moves up to CW for a title shot and retires Bivol has a few more years left and recollects the belts.
The rematch felt as if it was rigged for Bivol to win after the "robbery" in the first fight. It seemed that they were angling for a trilogy and that the 2nd fight was almost as if it was scripted to that end. I do think the 3rd fight will have more intensity and possibly more desperation from Beterbiev, one would think at least. And the problem with pushing this back is that most fans seem to want this rivalry to be done with as soon as possible. First, Beterbiev's age, he's only getting older. And fans don't want to see Bivol's prime wasted on fighting 40 somethings multiple times. They want to see Bivol Benavidez and other fights vs guys in their prime. Pushing this back presumably pushes that back as well. It's also frustrating because, Benavidez was just announced to fight Yarde, then this gets pushed back. With this fight being postponed till next year, this could open the door for Bivol vs Benavidez to happen later this year! Instead they announce he's fighting Yarde. It's like boxing can't get out of its own way.
IDGAF about Benavidez. I'm not big on him personally. He's decent with good output. I think he gets clipped against a remotely competent champion. Not even convinced Benavidez beats Canelo tbh. Canelo being shorter with shorter arms against an opponent who closes the distance...kinda plays into Canelo's hands. But IDK if Canelo has the stamina to hang anymore
It's always an interesting match but I don't know what Beterbiev can do more than last time to win. I think that Bivol has now understood how to manage himself in the 12 rounds to be able to contain the aggression of his opponent. And then Beterbiev will be 41 years old in January. I say Bivol clearly on points, if I make a mistake then I wouldn't mind.
1100 fans in the boxrec gave the decision to Beterbiev by 7 - 5 in first fight. The conclusion is: Bivol fades in the 2nd half of the fights and Beterbiev brutalizes him. In the 3rd fight, Beterbiev will definitely KO Bivol.
I definitely agree. Beterbiev absolutely dominated Bivol in both fights. Turki made Bivol a favor and gave the win to Bivol in 2nd fight. In the final fight, however, the belts will go back to their rightful owner.