We are constantly reminded that boxing is a business and the last few months have served as a strong reminder that money does indeed talk.
The influx of interest and cash from Saudi Arabia means that fights that boxing fans have wanted for years are suddenly being put together in weeks.
There have been plenty of not so discreet rumors that the long awaited light heavyweight unification fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will be one of the next superfights to be confirmed.
WBA, IBO champion, Bivol, cleared his slate for 2024 by comfortably outpointing Lyndon Arthur in Saudi Arabia last month. Beterbiev must now fulfil his part of the bargain, but it may not be as straight forward as many seem to think it will be.
The WBC, IBF and WBO champion faces another British fighter, Callum Smith, in Quebec City on January 13th and both Smith, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, believe that a big upset is on the horizon.
“I don’t blame people for wanting to see Beterbiev-Bivol. As a boxing fan, that’s a fight that I would like to see. It is a little disrespectful when there are people in boxing posting, and I’m due to fight [Beterbiev] in January,” Smith said to Boxing Social.
“I’m confident in my own ability, and I feel I can beat him when I’m at my best. I believe the best version of me beats anyone in the world. In my eyes, it’ll be me [winning against] Beterbiev and then me against Bivol after that. So, I think I can ruin people’s plans. I’m not angry for people wanting to see the fight because it’s a fight that people want to see. At the moment, they’re the two champions in this weight division – so I can’t really take too much offense about it,”
So far, no opponent has been able to withstand Beterbiev’s combination of thudding power and educated but relentless pressure but former super middleweight champion, Smith, may well be the most accomplished fighter the Russian-Canadian has faced so far.
Smith, of course, has never faced an opponent with Beterbiev’s unique set of gifts. He faces a stiff task but if he can stand up to the assault, there is little doubt that the 33 year old has the experience, pedigree and power to spring the upset.
As well as being a fearsome puncher, Beterbiev is an intimidating physical presence but he has been dropped and hurt in the past. Smith may have spent much of his career at 168lbs but won’t be a small light heavyweight and possesses the ability to finish a fight with a single shot. The Liverpudlian stands at 6ft 3in tall, has broad shoulders, good balance and knows exactly how to use his leverages. He scored a frightening stoppage of Gilbert Castillo with a perfectly timed right hand and then earned his shot at Beterbiev by knocking out Mathieu Bauderlique with a beautiful left hook in their WBC final eliminator.
