Author: Sean Crose

This weekend’s undisputed lithe heavyweight title fight between undefeated Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is rightly attracting a lot of attention. While it’s true that the winner will be declared the undisputed lithe heavyweight champion of the world, he will also enter the pantheon of all-time lithe heavyweight champions – and that’s saying something. Gene Tunney, Archie Moore, Billy Conn, Michael Spinks, Ezzard Charles and seemingly countless other icons found glory in this division. In fact, the lithe heavyweight division may be the most underrated division in all of boxing history. Positioned somewhere between heavyweight and middleweight, he never gets the respect and attention he deserves.

It’s difficult to argue that a Beterbiev-Bivol winner will assist elevate the lithe heavyweight division in the public eye, but it certainly won’t hurt. Bivol, 23, can walk and talk. He has already made boxing history by defeating the great Canelo Alvarez in 2022. Now he’s after an even bigger prize: divisional domination. As for Beterbiev, since the beginning of his career in 2013, the man has been nothing less than a picture of doom. Moreover, none of the guy’s 20 opponents were able to withstand such a distance with him.

Although it will be a fight for all the symbolic marbles, there is no denying that this matchup is electrifying on paper as well. Every person fights in their own unique way. Bivol is a chess master who has more strength than guys like Canelo could handle. Beterbiev, on the other hand, lets his fists do the talking. However, there is more to this man than just bulky hands. He works his way to knockout moments. This is not some savage we are talking about here, but a specialist from the consulate.

Whether or not it ends in a thrilling battle – and it’s difficult to imagine it won’t – the winner will earn the right to be mentioned alongside all the legends who have fought in the lithe heavyweight division before. And there is no denying that this is a really sedate matter. This fight has been a long wait, so it’s good to know that Beterbiev and Bivol will finally meet in the ring on Saturday. Let’s hope it was worth the wait. Historical battles are better when they’re entertaining.

Nick Ball has been told by his promoter Frank Warren to recover from the most demanding year of his career before considering his next move.

On Saturday at the M&S Arena in Liverpool, the 27-year-old stopped Ronny Rios in 10 rounds to defend his WBA featherweight title for the first time.

The hard-fought fight was his third in seven months after breaking into the world class for the first time in March with a draw against Rey Vargas. That happened in June, when he won the title against Raymond Ford, and on Saturday, when he defended it in his hometown.

Warren, who also promotes Daniel Dubois, compared Ball’s career to that of the heavyweight who turned his career around with victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but while there is already speculation about a rematch between Dubois and Joshua, he declined to consider Ball’s career to 2025.

“He needs rest,” Warren told BoxingScene. “I don’t even think about it at the moment. He needs good rest. He had three really tough and arduous fights. I don’t remember anyone, apart from Daniel Dubois, who fought at such a high level. Over the course of seven months, he faced three world-class players. How many people do this?

“He needs a break and I want him to have a break and then come back with his batteries charged and see what the field is like. He’s an invigorating little bastard – probably one of the most invigorating players around.

“I don’t think he’ll be very cheerful [to rest] because it’s a fighting machine, but Paul [Stevenson]his coach, he’s a really sensible guy. We’ll talk and move on. But Paul knows what must be done.

“[Rios] made an impression on me. I knew he was a tough guy. I knew he would come to fight. Nick tried a little too rigid sometimes; I would like to see him utilize the jab more often; he has a great jab; when he uses it, it’s of a different class. He’s a handful of fighters and I can’t think of any fighter he hasn’t beaten. I really can’t. He’s a tough, tough player for everyone. He is relentless.

“He [Rios] was competitive; comes to fight; he gave everything he had. He is very, very experienced, he used his experience and sometimes tried to “try” it. He took some solemn punishment and returned to the fight several times.

“Nick is still learning and it was a really, really good fight; he was a good opponent for him and got the best out of him. He dug deep and did what he had to do. He controlled most of the fights.”

The fact that Ball has fought twice in Saudi Arabia, as he did against Vargas and Ford, suggests that his next title defense could be made there, regardless of the temptation – as would previously have been more typical – to build his image as an attraction in his hometown and When asked about the likely target of his next fight, Warren replied: “I don’t know at this stage. If he has a break, he can enjoy Christmas and see what happens next year. We have a show in February in Arabia and then it’s Ramadan so we’ll have to see. Unify titles [is the plan]”

Warren was absent from Liverpool due to flu, which also postponed his arrival in Riyadh for Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol, but on the same day Jack Rafferty (29) was impressed by the retention of Henry Turner, and Warren plans to return to negotiate with him regarding a promotional contract.

“I would like to do something with him. Of course we will do something with them and he deserves it,” he said. “He deserves it. By the way, Henry, we’ll get him back – let’s rest him and we’ll get him back in the game too. It’s a good fight for him and he’s learning. Rafferty is a tough competitor, there’s no doubt about it. We will work with him on something, that’s for sure.

“I would like to see this fight [between Rafferty and Pierce O’Leary]. This would be a great fight between these two early next year.

“It was always a tough fight [against Turner]. It was very competitive; Henry boxed exceptionally well for the first half of the fight and Rafferty returned to the fight. I always felt that during the fight, his experience and these 10 more fights than Henry could assist him. But Henry showed that he was an excellent boxer.

“It was more than that [Turner] running out of gas. But I’m not going to take anything away from Rafferty – he could have won two rounds by then.

For the first time in the four-belt era, two lithe heavyweights will face each other to fight for the undisputed championship.

On Saturday, October 12 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET), the WBC, WBO and IBF champion will face WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET) to unify all the major 175-pound belts.

The fight was scheduled to take place on June 1 this year, but a month before the fight, Beterbiev suffered a torn meniscus and underwent knee surgery, which forced a postponement. Instead of waiting, Bivol (23-0, 12 KO) fought Malik Zinad that day and scored a sixth-round TKO victory, his only stoppage win in his last 10 fights.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20) is the only boxing champion with a 100% KO rate. As of November 2017, he holds at least one lithe heavyweight title. Beterbiev unified his three belts in a second-round TKO victory over Joe Smith Jr. in June 2022 and has since made two successful defenses.

There are two other title fights on the card. Jai Opetaia defends her IBF cruiserweight title against Jack Massey, and Skye Nicolson puts her WBC featherweight belt on the line against Raven Chapman.

Where can I watch the Beterbiev vs. fight? Bivol on Saturday, October 12?

Beterbiev vs. fight Bivol’s undisputed lithe heavyweight title bout will air on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

Watch: Download the ESPN App | WatchESPN | TV

Don’t have ESPN? Find out how to get instant access today: ESPNInstantAccess.com

How to broadcast fights?

The fights will be broadcast on mobile devices using the ESPN application.

The undercard starts at 12:00 ET on DAZN.

Beterbiev vs. Bivol full card:

On ESPN+

• Title fight: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, 12 rounds, for Beterbiev’s WBC, WBO and IBF lithe heavyweight titles and Bivol’s WBA lithe heavyweight title

He DAZN

• Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke, 12 rounds, for the British heavyweight title

• Title fight: Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey, 12 rounds, for Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight title

• Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamil Szeremeta, 12 rounds, middleweight

• Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron, 10 rounds, lithe heavyweight

• Title fight: Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman, 10 rounds, for Nicolson’s WBC featherweight title

• Mohammed Alakel vs. Jesus Gonzalez, 4 rounds, lightweight

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