Bivol-Beterbiev III delayed to 2026

I'd prefer seeing Beterbiev vs Benavidez to Bivol vs Benavidez.

 

I like how people are acting like Arthur had no chance. Dude can knock anyone out.

 

Agree

It's more fan friendly and will be a war while it lasts. I see Beterbiev steamrolling him very early

 

Why the hell FFS can't these guys fight more than once a year?

 

Probably going to fight in between their third fight.

 

Would rather see both of these guys fight different opponents in all honesty. Not too excited seeing a third fight right after Bivol avenged his only defeat. Beterbiev is already 40 but still good enough to be competitive with anyone. Bivol and Beterbiev facing either Benavidez or the winner of Morrell/Khutaev would be ideal for both guys.

 

You’re an idiot the second fight was super competitive. Artur swung hard and missed a lot of big shots that could have easily landed on a different day that gassed him out.

 

It’s not just a punchers chance, I’m not saying those big shots would have stopped Bivol but they would have scored points. When big shots whiff it saps a lot of energy. You saying he only has a punchers chance shows me you don’t know squat about boxing.

 

You are an absolute moron.

 

What happened to that contract eddie? It seems to have magically vanished when David is out of the picture. I knew it was duck already but now its completely official. Say all you want but these guys don't want to get into the ring with Benavidez.

David didn't finalize the yarde fight until 2 days ago which means Bivol could have fought him in November. Still plenty of time to have made that fight.

Everyone talks how they would beat David but they won't even get in the ring with him! Quack Quack.

 

Weird that I don't care to see it, but Beterbiev deserves a third and final fight tbh

 

Thats why I'm so annoyed they did the instant rematch. They could have had a gap fight then did the rematch. Beterbiev beating Benavidez and Bivol beating someone else would have just fueled it more. But nooo we have to do the rematch now. Then when Bivol won its 1-1 and you have to do the third one right away because its 1-1. And Beterbievs in his 40s and has limited time. Since hes not the belt holder hes not going to risk the trilogy by fighting someone of value and he sinks two years into this.

I just wish this all went down different.

 

Beterbiev winning the first fight was largely seen as a robbery and therefore demanded an immediate rematch to "right the wrong" of the first fight. But before the rematch even happened the trilogy was already being talked about, as if the whole first decision and everything was just a scheme to create a trilogy from the beginning.

 

The Saudis have made it clear their love for instant rematchs and its one of the several reasons I don't approve of their stewardship of boxing. In "undisputed" divisions these rematches ruin the sport because theres one belt.

I'm not disputing Bivol deserved a rematch(it was a close fight not a robbery). I'm mad it was an instant rematch with no fights in between because I want to see something resembling a prime Beterbiev face as many opponents as possible. The age gap between Beterbiev and Bivol is much smaller than Benavidez and he has more time to circle back for a trilogy. Bivol could have fought Buatsi instead of Smith and Beterbiev v Bivol II coming off wins over Benavidez and Buatsi would have been even bigger. And if Bivol wanted to he could have waited while Beterbiev fought hes got more years at the highest level left. We'll be lucky to get Beterbiev to fight one time after the trilogy before hes 42.

I can't believe I'm writing this combination of words but I like how Fury and Wilder handled their rematch with the two fights in between. We need more of that.

I didn't see the first fight as a robbery and don't think fighters who lost the last however many rounds should be screaming robbery because in the 15 round era they would have no leg to stand on. Especially when they are the younger fighter. In my book we didn't learn anything from the rematch and will learn less from the third fight(which Bivol is likely to win handidly). Beterbiev losing his 100% but getting a comeback win will be my main takeaways from this series no matter what happens in the third fight. If Bivol destroys Beterbiev its cause he was old, if its a close classic people argue about ad nausiem we've already done that, if Beterbiev wins easily then how good was Bivol?

 

Bivol is ageing out Beterbiev, like he has been doing for years now. Beterbiev will be 41 if a trilogy fight happens.

Dmitry Bivol’s legacy:
- being a paper champion promoted from the interim belt (an email champion like Haney was)
- sitting on the said paper WBA belt for years defending against nobodies while Beterbiev unified 3 titles one by one against champions to become lineal
- blown up shot middleweight Canelo
- weight-drained cruiserweight Zurdo Ramirez
- 40 year old shot Beterbiev after ageing him out for years
- having the opportunity to defend against prime Benavidez but dropping the WBC belt to duck him

I’m a fan of his skills inside the ring but no one calls out his history of ducking and dodging prime fighters.

Beterbiev was the best at light heavyweight in his era, and prime for prime was the better fighter, no doubt about it.