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Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol: “People need to see this”

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For many, Saturday’s undisputed fight for the airy heavyweight championship is the center of the boxing calendar.

Whether the heavyweight carnage of the last 12 months has tickled your taste buds or not, and with the promise of a second Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury in December, many are still rooting for the fight between the champion WBC, WBO and IBF Artur Beterbiev and WBA king Dmitry Bivol as a must-see fight in 2024.

He has almost everything, including – most importantly – the fragile balance of who can win and how, while weighing in on who can have his hand up as the best 175-pounder of this generation.

This is the fight boxing needs. This they represent the best against the best in their weight class, and by a significant margin, and this is something that is too occasional today, despite the increased number of unification fights and cries that the best in each weight class fight each other more regularly than in years previous ones.

There were indeed some good action fights in 2024, but the theory that tons of modern money unlocked the fights we all wanted is wrong because we don’t think we’re any closer to Shakur Stevenson fighting “Tank” Davis and landing David Benavidez “Canelo” Alvarez or Terence Crawford fighting “Boots” Ennis.

These types of statements are always divisive; some fall into the same level of complaining as me, and others are grateful for what we had, not what we don’t have.

But here, in the case of Beterbiev-Bivol, (for a change) we almost all unanimously agree. It’s a close fight that’s one of the best, if not the best, to be had in the sport – and has been for some time.

“People want things to be uncomplicated,” Bivol told me a few weeks ago.

“People want to understand who the best airy heavyweight fighter is. And one of the guys has one belt; one of the guys has three belts. They have to see this. We want to see this fight to understand who is the best.”

Almost everything about competitions, when you pair up competitors and look at their records, style and attributes, makes them attractive.

Both were top amateurs and parlayed their pedigree into worldwide accolades as professionals and record-breaking players. Beterbiev caused more excitement and carnage, and his 20-0 (20 KO) record is more impressive than Bivol’s 23-0 (12 KO).

As Beterbiev’s statistics show, he is an absolute brute. Those who are hit by him will stay hit. His most significant moment of destruction ranks alongside the great and good in history at 175 years ancient, while Bivol performs operations using a different methodology, but no less precise.

It’s too basic to condemn Beterbiev for blunt force trauma. This harms his distance, timing, dominance and patience. He didn’t defeat the people he had defeated so far by simply marching forward and not stopping until they gave way.

Working at the level he works at and the way he does it means he must act in a harmful way. That means he was dropped and caught. There is no shame in it. Jeff Page knocked him down with a right hand that got him back up. Callum Johnson hit him with a brief left hook that made him feel dizzy. Others have had success as well, but inevitability creeps in and the walls soon begin to close in.

Will 33-year-old Bivol keep Beterbiev away from him and will the WBA champion stay out of the danger zone for 12 rounds? These are some of the many questions that will be answered in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Historically, this fight really matters. This isn’t hyperbole or nonsense. This is not a position that includes a promise of a reward from the Saudi state fund. This competition will produce the true offspring of Tommy Loughran, Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Bob Foster, Michael Spinks and Roy Jones.

From a commercial perspective, how huge a fight between two Russians in Saudi Arabia is, regardless of the caliber of the boxers, the intricacies and proposed violence of the fight itself, is a completely different matter.

Many felt that Crawford’s Las Vegas showcase with Errol Spence at T-Mobile in Las Vegas in 2023 had not expanded beyond the boxing bubble, and this one certainly doesn’t get any bigger. This is a must-see fight for hardcore fans and a top-notch commercial fight. Time will tell if it is by any means a commercial juggernaut.

Some felt Spence entered the Crawford fight as damaged goods – maybe even Spence would agree – and while some say Beterbiev has shown no signs of slowing down in the ring, and looked as destructive as ever in his previous fight, an emphatic victory over Callum Smith in Montreal, there are still questions about whether his knee had time to heal properly ( that fight was postponed to June 1 due to a torn meniscus), whether inactivity would ultimately play a role in his downfall, or whether the almost 40-year-old Father Time knocked on the door where Beterbiev stands with his hand outstretched, ready to open.

As with Spence, this will likely only matter if Bivol – already the vanquisher of the aforementioned Canelo – wins decisively and decisively.

According to airy heavyweight contender Jesse Hart, a clear winner would be a surprise. Instead, what is expected and desired is a fight that will demand a lot from both.

“I think it will be a war in itself,” he told me earlier this year. “And I believe that in this fight you will get what’s left of these two fighters, provided that they are not in top shape after this fight.

I think it will take a lot from both of them after this fight. Because they both fight so tough and they both come from Russia, they both have that pedigree in them. So it’s not just about the world title, but who is the best in our country? This is Russia versus Russia; it’s also personal. They want to be respected as the best. In Russia people say Bivol is the best; people say Beterbiev is the best. Now they meet and find out who is really the best here [at 175 lbs]and it’s because of these two guys. So I believe it will require a lot from both of them.

Will any of the players be the same later?

“No, absolutely not. That’s why I say David Benavidez has moved up [in weight] in due course. He knows what he’s doing – it’s not without reason that he decided to fight in the airy heavyweight division [Oleksandr] Gwozdyk; what’s left of the two of them are beating each other up because that’s what it’s going to be like.

I think this fight will demand a lot from both fighters, regardless of who wins. I believe the fans will get their money’s worth, but I think it will take a lot of effort from both guys because they are both resilient.

When entering a fight, while it’s worth considering every possible alternative, it’s also worth appreciating what we finally have. Beterbiev-Bivol is a fight we have been waiting for for a long time. Now it’s their job to show us why and satisfy our cravings as fight fans who are too often denied that magical feeling.

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Boxing

George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

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Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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