Dmitry Bivol came well prepared for today’s press conference for his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for their rematch next month on February 22 in Riyadh.
Beterbiev’s menacing look
Former WBA 175-lb champion Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) had a humorous line when the moderator asked what his message was to Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs): “I’m not a postman. I’m an athlete.” The sequence made everyone laugh except Beterbiev, who gave Bivol a look that said, “You’ll see.”
That look said it all. Bivol will be knocked out unless he runs like he did last time in his 12-round majority loss to Beterbiev on October 12. Bivol couldn’t stand Beterbiev the last time after he started to press him in the sixth. In the sixth,
Bivol tried to stand up and staggered. From there, he abandoned ship and made a long retreat, taking shots as he ran, holding and showing no inclination to fight. Bivol’s fans were disappointed, they believed that their hero had won, but they did not face the truth.
He had lost his nerve and courage when he needed it against Beterbiev. Bivol looked like he was being chased by an angry wolf in the forest. His eyes were wide with fear and he showed no heart. He was a classic example of a fighter who had lost his nerve and was just going to survive to avoid humiliation.
Bivol talked empty words today at the press conference, talking about “Luck” that has nothing to do with success. This is a common phase in Eastern Europe, but in this case, the words were not convincing because he was not going to fight any harder than last time.
If he does, he will probably get knocked out because he lacks the guts, chin and strength to stand up to the hungry wolf, Beterev.
Beterbiev won the previous bout with cores 115-113, 16-112, 114-114
The Hunter Returns
Dmitry Bivol: “This is a good opportunity for me. I know people like the first race and want to see the second race. I want to do a second fight, and I want to be the winner of this fight. What about the zones I could see. Before, I wanted these belts so much and nothing else. Today, I don’t just want the belts, I want revenge. I want to fix what I did before. I want to win. It’s not just the belts,” Bivol said during today’s press conference.
“I need to change enough to prove that I am better and I need to add more actions. We’ve already changed a bit with training camp. We added a coach to our training camp and now, I’m working on myself. Of course I want to be better. I want to be perfect and I try to be.”
Arthur Beterbiev: “My aim now is to keep my belts and I will do my best to do that. He has a rematch if he wants to do that (get revenge). To earn quite better. Enough to win. I don’t know. Maybe because he was lucky that night,” Beterbiev said about why Bivol saw the final bell in their previous fight on October 12.
Bivol: “I don’t believe much in luck. I think luck will come to people who work hard, and I work and get lucky. Luck will not come without work. I have no message. I’m not the postman. I am an athlete. I’ll come to the ring and we’ll talk with action.”
Beterbiev: “You mean postman? No. I think on February 22, we will see a good fight. My message is ready. That’s all. Nothing more.”
2025-01-13 20:40:00
