Often, when a late replacement is called upon they are rarely an improvement on the original opponent.
Poor Malik Zinad was never going to be seen as an upgrade over the injured Artur Beterbiev. Zinad was tasked with the gig a month ago, ahead of one of this year’s most eagerly-awaited fights, as Beterbiev prepared to face Dmitrii Bivol.
Bivol and Beterbiev is one of this generation’s best matches on paper, an undisputed clash that was due to pit WBA titleholder Bivol against the IBF, WBC and WBO king, Beterbiev.
But Beterbiev damaged his meniscus in training a month ago, and the fight was postponed until later this year.
It was a severe injury, and it will take months to convalesce.
Bivol’s spot was saved on this weekend’s show in Saudi Arabia, although the anticipation levels are not high for his fight with Zinad.
More talk has switched toward the heavyweights on the bill, particularly Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang, but Bivol will be doing everything in his power to preserve the lucrative carrot being dangled should he and Beterbiev eventually fight in one of the best bouts that can be made in the sport today.
Zinad is cast, here, as the banana skin, the obstacle that could cause some headaches if Bivol takes his eye off the ball.
That scenario is hard to envision.
Bivol is rated as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. His convincing victory over Canelo Alvarez in 2022 made him a hot property, even if it didn’t make him the franchise player commercially that Canelo remains.
There have been just two fights since for Bivol, clear wins over Giberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi in November 2022 (the only loss in Zurdo’s 47-fght career), and a December 23 fight in Saudi Arabia against Manchester, U.K. contender Lyndon Arthur.
Zinad is solid and keeps Bivol active, without – one would imagine – posing too much of a threat.
Although Zinad’s a solid hitter, Australian Jerome Pampellone took him the distance and to a majority decision in his last fight. Zinad was still busy and industrious in the 12th, cracking Pampellone with that familiar right while still looking fit and fresh. There are no question marks over his engine.
Obviously going the full 12 rounds is of no concern to Bivol, either, having done it in his last nine fights — 10, if you count his final-round stoppage of Sullivan Barrera in 2018— picking up invaluable experience against Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal, Joe Smith, Canelo and Ramirez, among those 10 victims. In 2021, Bivol failed to dazzle while winning a close fight against Craig Richards, but the Englishman is a handful, underrated and a tough night’s work.
Bivol is 33, but he’s never been better than he seems now. Sure, there is little chance he will be as motivated by the task in front of him on Saturday as he would’ve been by the dangers and potential rewards of facing Beterbiev, but he is disciplined and a class act.
This opportunity should inspire Zinad, meanwhile, to make the most of the chance he says he’s waited a long time for.
Like Bivol, the challenger is 22-0, but Zinad has 16 stoppage wins while Bivol has just 11. Of course, Bivol’s level of opposition has been in a different stratosphere.
Zinad is well-travelled and experienced. He has boxed in Malta, France, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, England, Scotland, Belgium, Luxembourg and, last time out, Australia.
It was Down Under where he scored the win that elevated him to this point, when he defeated fellow unbeaten (18-0) Pampellone on a majority through 12 physical rounds in April.
Zinad is a solid all-rounder. He has a nice double jab, a relaxed style and he is a threat with the right hand that follows in behind the left. He also does not neglect working the body, but it is the right hand that has wreaked the most havoc for his opponents.
When you look at Bivol, you can see how aware he is with his high guard and how he monitors that right hand over the top. Even when the cross is served as a chaser to the jab, Bivol is often there to block it with his gloves. And while Zinad has a dependable double jab-right hand, that is a bread-and-butter combination for the Russian, who also spears the body well with the left and, if the mood takes him, is content to lead with the left hook. That might not be part of the plan against someone with Zinad’s straight right, but as Bivol grows more comfortable with what’s in front of him, it would not be a surprise to see him lead with occasional hooks and rights as he bamboozles Zinad through the middle rounds.
Of course, it will always be worth noting the Canelo victory was just the second venture up to 175 for the Mexican hero. The light heavyweight division is very much Bivol’s terrain and has been since he turned over in 2014.
And there is a chance that the Bivol who toiled with Richards does not sparkle against Zinad. He posted a workmanlike performance against Arthur last year, and that is all he needs to do here: be a pro, don’t take risks, rack up points and preserve, at all costs, the Beterbiev fight for later in the year.
Other Previews From The 5 x 5 Show
Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic
Raymond Ford vs. Nick Ball
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin Williams
Craig Richards vs. Willy Hutchinson
Tomorrow… The Big One: Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder
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