October/November Target For Bivol-Beterbiev Trilogy: Can Bivol Silence Doubters In Third Encounter?

Eddie Hearn says the trilogy match between IBF, WBA, and WBO light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will happen in October or November. He states Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) is “getting over” a small injury he sustained in his victory over Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) in their rematch on February 22nd.

Hearn says he already spoke to Turki Alalshikh about the trilogy, and he believes Bivol will “Do an even better job” in the third fight with Beterbiev. That’s doubtful. Bivol isn’t going to stand and fight Beterbiev. He’ll move all night like he did in the last two fights.

Unconvincing Win

The trilogy would be nice for fans if Bivol stands his ground more, and doesn’t run & hold all night like he did in the rematch with Beterbiev. It was like watching one of Shakur Stevenson’s fights with the movement that Bivol was using. Entertainment-wise, it was one of the least exciting fights on the entire card that night.

That’s not Beterbiev’s fault. It was Bivol running and holding. When fans purchase fights on PPV, they like to see action, and that’s not how Bivol fights. He’s more of a Shakur-type fighter. Having both fighters on the same card was a cup of poison.

Many fans are still annoyed by Bivol’s questionable 12-round majority decision win last February. They felt that Beterbiev, 40, had done enough to deserve the win or a draw. Bivol’s victory was viewed as a sympathy-driven decision to make up for the disputed outcome of the first fight with Beterbiev last October. The scores were 115-113, 115-113, and 114-114.

Fans noted that the commentary team seemed to favor Bivol. It sounded like they were cheering him at times, which caused some to turn down the sound to filter out the static from the commentators.

It looked like Beterbiev won these rounds: 1, 4-7, 10, and 12. However, the judges gave rounds to Bivol based on his lighter punches and favored his hit-and-run style. The judges weren’t factoring in Beterbiev’s harder shots, aggression, and the running that Bivol was doing throughout. In the 12th, Beterbiev turned up the head on his offense and had Bivol looking close to being stopped.

October/November Target

“Bivol was also in Saudi Arabia. Are we still trending toward the trilogy fight with Beterbiev?” said Chris Mannix on his YouTube channel, talking to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn about the trilogy clash between unified three-belt light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

“Yeah, I believe October, November time. His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh], I had a chat with him there again,” said Eddie Hearn. “Dmitry had a small injury he’s getting over from the last fight, but I’m sure he’ll be ready to go, and I’m sure he’ll do an even better job in the trilogy.”

Stop the Running

It would have been better if Turki Alalshikh insisted that Bivol fight David Benavidez next before making the trilogy match. Obviously, the chances of Bivol being destroyed by Benavidez would be high.

At least it would have been a fighter that could cut off the ring and deal with Bivol’s ugly running to give fans real entertainment value. That’s what these events should be about. After watching two dull Bivol-Beterbiev fights against the so-called best at 175, there needs to be some new blood. Benavidez or David Morrell should be the one challenging Bivol or facing Beterbiev next.