Jai Opetaia believes that Artur Beterbiev’s only chance of beating Dmitry Bivol lies in his ability to stop his fellow Russian.
Beterbiev and Bivol are set to fight for the undisputed light-heavyweight title at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. This match is pivotal for both boxers, as it will not only shape their careers but also determine who is the best light-heavyweight from Russia and their generation.
The 39-year-old Beterbiev, the IBF, WBO, and WBC champion, is considered by many to be the hardest puncher in the world, pound for pound, despite his age.
Bivol, who is 33 and the WBA champion, solidified his status as one of the top boxers in the world with his impressive victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2022, who was widely regarded as the best fighter at that time.
There is speculation that the winner of Saturday’s bout may move up to cruiserweight to face Opetaia, who is defending his IBF title against Jack Massey on the undercard.
Opetaia has analyzed both fighters and shared his thoughts with BoxingScene, stating: “It’s a great fight. As a boxing fan, it’s one of the best matchups right now. It’s a perfect style clash; very exciting.”
He added that Bivol excels at maintaining distance and using angles, with excellent footwork that keeps opponents at bay. On the other hand, he described Beterbiev as applying intelligent pressure, making him difficult to hit, even though he may appear hittable at times. He noted Beterbiev’s strong jab, power, solid chin, and impressive work rate, emphasizing that both fighters put in the necessary effort in training.
“It’s exciting. If Bivol boxes wisely and avoids getting hurt, he’ll win on the scorecards. But if Beterbiev manages to land a solid shot, he could win by knockout. If it goes to the judges, Bivol’s got it, 100 percent,” Opetaia said.
When asked about the possibility of facing the winner, Opetaia responded, “It’s been discussed a lot. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Our main goal is to collect these cruiserweight belts, and if a super fight arises along the way, we’ll take it.
“I would fight the winner. I think they’d both be solid cruiserweights; they possess great skills for it. Boxing is evolving—it’s not just about throwing punches. Look at the best heavyweight in the world now [Oleksandr Usyk]; he has the best footwork, which is why he’s at the top.
“Boxing is about movement; punching is the easy part. But when you incorporate footwork and distance management, ticking every box, that’s when you become a world champion.”
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