Beterbiev: ‘I want [Dmitry] Bivol’

That was fun! Unified light heavyweight champion(WBC/WBO/IBF) Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) did what he always does on Saturday night, and that’s knock people out. 

Beterbiev retained his 100% knockout ratio by scoring an eighth-round technical knockout victory against Anthony Yarde (23-3, 22 KOs) at OVO Arena Wembley in London.

Yarde had success in this fight and, at times, was getting the better of the action. In fact, at the time of the stoppage, two judges had Yarde winning the fight (68-65 and 67-66). while one judge had it for Beterbiev(67-66).

By the end of the fight, both men had sustained cuts. Yarde had one below his right eye, and Beterbiev had one above his left eye.

In the eighth round, Beterbiev ended the night. He landed a right hand that sent Yarde to the canvas. Yarde got to his feet but clearly was hurt; Beterbiev moved forward to finish him, but fortunately, Yarde’s corner stopped the action at 2:01 of the round.

Beterbiev got the win, but he felt he could have been a little better.

“I can’t say I did a very bad fight,” he said. “But if I could do it again, I’d do it better. But I feel good. To be honest, I prepared for the all the punches he did. That’s why I could come back. It’s because we expected those punches.”

After the win, Beterbiev made it clear that he wants to be undisputed at 175, which means a showdown with WBA 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol.

“I want [Dmitry] Bivol,” he said. “Right now, it’s everything. In that fight, we’ll have four belts. It’s really good fight, I think.”

Even at 38, it’s hard to imagine anyone surviving the power of Beterbiev. However, Bivol is challenging and can box circles around anyone, so let’s hope it happens next.