Artur Beterbiev snapped at promoter Eddie Hearn during today’s final press conference, reacting to the mouthing off he’d been doing, predicting victory for his fighter Dmitry Bivol on Saturday.
Hearn had called unified three-belt light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) “arrogant” and said that he was looking “depleted” for his undisputed match against Bivol in Riyadh. Hearn hit the right button to anger Beterbiev, who told him, “You talk a lot,” and then said he’ll “Finish” Bivol on Saturday but maybe the British promoter today.
(Photo credit: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions)
Hearn’s face was desperate when he spoke because he needed WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) to win this fight. If he wins, there’s a rematch with Canelo Alvarez against Bivol that will generate a boatload of money that help out nicely with the dough rolling in. That rematch won’t help if Bivol gets knocked out by Beterbiev on Saturday.
Eddie Hearn: “I believe Dmitry Bivol will become undisputed light heavyweight world champion on Saturday night. He’ll achieve his life-long dream, and he fights to the level of his opposition. There’s only one man in the world that can beat Artur Beterbiev, and that’s Dmitry Bivol, and that will happen on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.”
Artur Beterbiev: “You want to make a fight with Eddie. I can do something.”
Hearn: Don’t worry about me. You have to get through him first.”
Beterbiev: “But why you are you like this?”
Hearn: “When he’s finished with you, you’ll be easy for me.”
Beterbiev: “No need to finish with him. I’ll finish with him tomorrow, but you today maybe.”
Hearn: “The weigh-in is tomorrow.”
“Beterbiev: “But today, maybe.”
Hearn: “Maybe. I don’t think it’ll be a tough fight. You need a real challenge.”
Beterbiev: “I don’t think you’re in good condition now.”
Hearn: “I’m in terrible [shape], but I think you need to switch on for this guy.”
Beterbiev: “Okay. You talk a lot.”
Hearn: “That’s my job. You should try it.”
Beterbiev : “Okay, we’ll see on Saturday.”
Beterbiev gets into it with Eddie Hearn 👀 #BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/P5reHGi8kD
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 10, 2024
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