Dmitry Bivol came well-prepped for today’s press conference for his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for their rematch next month on February 22nd in Riyadh.
Beterbiev’s Menacing Stare
The former WBA 175-lb champion Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) had a humorous line when the moderator asked what his message was to Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs): “I am not a postman. I am an athlete.” The line got everyone laughing except Beterbiev, who shot Bivol a look that said, ‘You’ll see.’
That look said it all. Bivol will get knocked out unless he runs like he did last time in his 12-round majority decision defeat against Beterbiev on October 12th. Bivol couldn’t stand up to Beterbiev last time after he began pressuring him in the sixth. In the sixth,
Bivol tried to stand his ground and got staggered. From there, he gave up the ship and went on a long retreat, taking shots as he ran, holding and showing no willingness to fight. Bivol fans were dishartened, believe their hero had won, but they didn’t face the truth.
He’d lost his nerve and courage when he needed it against Beterbiev. Bivol looked like he was being chased by an angry wolf in the woods. His eyes were wide with fear, and he showed no heart. He was a classic example of a fighter who had lost his nerve and was just going to survive to avoid humiliation.
Bivol mouthed empty words today at the press conference, talking about “Luck” having nothing to do with success. This is a common phase in Eastern Europe, but in this case, the words were unconvincing because he was not going to fight harder than he did last time.
If he does, he’ll likely get knocked out because he lacks the courage, chin, and power to stand up to the hungry wolf, Beteriev.
Beterbiev won their previous fight by the cores 115-113, 16-112, 114-114
The Hunter Returns
Dmitry Bivol: “This is a good chance for me. I know people like the first fight, and they want to see the second fight. I want to make second fight, and I want to be winner of this fight. What about belts I could see. Before, I so wanted these belts and nothing else. Today, I want not only the belts, I want revenge. I want to fix what I did before. I want to win. It’s not just about belts,” said Bivol during today’s press conference.
“I need to change enough to prove that I am better, and I need to add more actions. We already changed a little bit with the training camp. We added some coach in our training camp, and now, I’m working on myself. Of course, I want to be better. I want to be perfect, and I’m trying to be.”
Artur Beterbiev: “My goal is now to keep my belts, and I will do my best to do that. He has a rematch if he wants to do that [get revenge]. For enough better to win. Just to enough to win. I don’t know. Maybe because he was lucky that night,” said Beterbiev on why did Bivol see the final bell in their previous fight on October 12th.”
Bivol: “I don’t believe too much in luck. I think luck will come to people who work a lot, and I work on it and I become lucky. Luck will not come without work. I don’t have any messages. I’m not the postman. I am an athlete. I will come to the ring, and we will talk by action.”
Beterbiev: “Do you mean by postman? No. I think on February 22nd, we’re going to see a good fight. My message is be ready. That’s it. Nothing more.”
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