One more time for Bivol and Beterbiev

ONE good knuckle sandwich deserves another.

Some four months after their initial encounter, Russians Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will meet again this Sunday (Manila time) in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF) light heavyweight (175 pounds) championship.

Beterbiev hammered out a hard-earned majority decision over Bivol in the first fight to crown himself the first undisputed light heavyweight king in over 20 years or since American Roy Jones held the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles (three-belt era). Beterbiev's undisputed reign is special as he became the first undisputed light heavyweight champ of the four-belt era.

The victory did not come easy, though.

Bivol boxed well in the early rounds as Beterbiev struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Bivol's movement and counterpunching frustrated Beterbiev early in the fight.

Beterbiev, however, got his game going in the middle rounds and was able to regain control of the fight. When the dust settled, Beterbiev won on points although not a few thought Bivol did enough to win.

In any event, a rematch was immediately set up.

Beterbiev handed Bivol his first defeat in 24 fights. However, in settling for just a points victory, Beterbiev went the full 12-round distance for the first time in his pro career. Beterbiev went into the fight having knocked out all of his 20 opponents.

While Beterbiev won the first fight, the odds for the return bout remain 50-50.

The first fight was supposed to take place in June 2024 but it was moved to October 2024 after Beterbiev sustained a knee injury.

Beterbiev underwent knee surgery and not a few thought he was rushed back to the ring. Beterbiev pushed through with the fight in October 2024 or just a few months after the surgery.

Some fans attributed Beterbiev's slow start in the first fight to the suspect condition of his knee.

Bivol moved a lot in the early rounds and it was for a two-pronged purpose: to avoid Beterbiev's lethal shots and to take advantage of the suspect condi-tion of Beterbiev's knee.

Going into the rematch, Beterbiev (21-0, 20 knockouts) claims his knee feels way better. Then again, Beterbiev turned 40 last Jan. 21 and age may be catching up with him. In fact, he recently talked about retirement, telling reporters that he only plans to continue fighting for as long as his mother permits him.

Bivol, 23-1 with 12 knockouts, is obviously coming in with a lot of confidence.

While he lost the first fight, Bivol did go the distance with the most feared puncher in the sport. At the time of the first fight, Beterbiev was the only reigning champ in boxing with a 100 percent knockout percentage.

Bivol admits that he needs to do a lot more and keep his focus for the entire duration of the rematch. Not a few believe Bivol wilted in the trenches or when Beterbiev's punches started finding their mark.

Bivol predicts more fireworks in the rematch. Bivol apparently believes he can take more risks as he survived Beterbiev's bombs in the first meeting.

Then again, this may be what Beterbiev wants to happen: for Bivol to believe that he can already mix it up on the inside. For Beterbiev, it will be easier to catch Bivol if the latter will stop moving and trade with gusto.

Bivol became a household name in May 2022, when he outclassed Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in defense of his WBA light heavyweight crown. Alvarez will be an eager spectator in the fight. If Bivol wins, Alvarez wants another shot at only the second boxer to beat him.

Of course, Beterbiev has plans of his own.

If he wins, Beterbiev may end up defending the undisputed belts against top contender David Benavidez, the same puncher Alvarez avoided in the su-per middleweight (168 pounds) division.

Boxing fans are definitely looking forward to the Bivol-Beterbiev rematch. It is a toss-up, although this writer is leaning on Beterbiev getting a clear-cut victory this time.

Beterbiev is healthy and remains a fearsome puncher. Bivol may have lasted the full route in the first fight, but the last thing he wants to believe is that Beterbiev's punches no longer carry a mean pop.

Beterbiev dealt with health issues in the first fight and will be back to his menacing form in the rematch. Unless his knee acts up again, Beterbiev's pres-sure will be a prominent factor in the fight. The key here is that between Bivol and Beterbiev, it is Beterbiev who has the power to inflict pain.

Bivol can run, but if he cannot hurt Beterbiev, the latter will walk him down and cut him down to size with punishing blows.