Dmitry Bivol says he plans to turn up the heat in his second showdown with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their first fight ended in a unanimous decision for Beterbiev, leaving critics to question Bivol’s overly cautious approach - especially down the stretch.
This time around, Bivol insists he’ll be “more open,” which suggests a more aggressive, risk-taking style instead of sticking to the back foot for half the fight. In their initial clash, he started strongly but backed off after feeling Beterbiev’s power, choosing survival over trading. That strategy didn’t impress the judges, who awarded Beterbiev a points victory.
Watch Bivol vs. Beterbiev highlights: Watch
Bivol still has the tools - speed, solid power, and excellent technique - to make this a highly competitive rematch. But many believe the key is his mindset. If he avoids retreating and trusts his offense, we could see a fight-of-the-year candidate rather than a cat-and-mouse game. Beterbiev, too, plans to apply pressure from the opening bell rather than waiting until the middle rounds.
All signs point to a more explosive sequel on DAZN PPV. Will we see a mentally stronger Bivol ready to match the champion punch for punch?
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