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In one of the anticipated fights of the 12 months, undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (21-0) puts his titles on the road in a rematch with Dmitry Bivol (23-1). It’s time to proceed our boxing odds series with an Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol 2 prediction and pick.
Beterbiev, 40, won the primary fight in October 2024 via a controversial majority decision. While many felt Bivol did enough to win the fight, it was as a substitute Beterbiev who added the WBA, IBO, and The Ring titles to his collection. Overall, the win was his ninth consecutive world title defense since initially winning the IBF 175-pound belt in November 2017.
Bivol, 34, maintained possession of no less than one world title belt since being promoted to WBA light heavyweight champion in 2017 before the loss. He gained a second belt with a win over Lyndon Arthur in December 2023 before losing them to Beterbiev. Coming off the loss, Bivol’s last win was a dominant TKO of Malik Zinad in June 2024.
Listed below are the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol odds, courtesy of FanDuel
Boxing Odds: Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol 2 Odds
Artur Beterbiev: -134
Dmitry Bivol: +106
Over 10.5 Rounds: -280
Under 10.5 Rounds: +205
Find out how to Watch Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2
Time: 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT
Essential event ring walk (estimated): 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
TV/Stream: DAZN pay-per-view
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Why Artur Beterbiev Will Win
As controversial because it might need been, Beterbiev won the primary fight off his pressure and pace, especially down the stretch. Whether because of fatigue or damage, Bivol was the fading fighter within the championship rounds, easily giving Beterbiev the ultimate three rounds of the fight. Known for his knack of slowly breaking opponents down, many predicted a late onslaught for Beterbiev, which is precisely how he convinced the judges in a detailed fight.
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Overall, despite landing the same amount, Beterbiev threw over 200 more punches within the fight, per Compubox. In a fight as close as that one was, his constant forward movement and activity gave him the optics. Beterbiev was also clearly the more powerful puncher, along with his hits visibly affecting Bivol, even through his tight guard.
Bivol is unlikely to take the identical approach within the rematch, but nothing can change the ability advantage Beterbiev has. Bivol will should be more lively than he was in the primary fight, but he clearly felt the ability from Beterbiev early that affected his game plan because the rounds pressed on. Because the fighter who appeared to figure more of his opponent out late, Beterbiev would seem to have the upper hand within the rematch.
Why Dmitry Bivol Will Win
Even in a loss, Bivol proved himself to be a way more accurate fighter with tighter defense in the primary fight. He cruised through the early rounds before finding a second wind in round seven but ultimately faded down the ultimate three rounds. If he desires to win the rematch, that can not be the case again.
Nevertheless, by the top of the 12 rounds, Bivol landed five more total punches than Beterbiev despite throwing 259 fewer shots. He spent a lot of the fight backpedaling but still found his jab and counters off his back foot. Beterbiev likes to pressure his opponents but struggled with the speed of Bivol.
If Bivol can discover a option to increase his activity, he can exploit the defensive advantage he has over Beterbiev. The champion is used to being the fighter pushing forward but isn’t used to coping with a speed drawback. In chasing Bivol across the ring, Beterbiev’s footwork and guard slipped up on multiple occasions that were just not taken advantage of. Had Bivol thrown a bit more volume, particularly late within the fight, the consequence might need been different.
Final Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol Prediction & Pick
The primary time Beterbiev and Bivol fought, all expectations were met. The undisputed light heavyweight title fight was as close as any high-level bout might be, with nothing suggesting the rematch shall be anything different. Beterbiev won the choice and all six belts along with his pace and power within the championship rounds.
Nevertheless, even just 4 months later, a rematch would favor the younger fighter. At 40, Beterbiev has been open about how little he sees left in his profession. Meanwhile, Bivol, 34, predicts one other lengthy title reign ahead of him while aspiring to grow to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet. If either has the flexibility to indicate significant evolution, it’s Bivol, the younger and more athletic boxer.
While neither scored a knockdown in the primary fight, Beterbiev’s power was the good equalizer, continuously pushing Bivol back and forcing him to shell up greater than usual. Bivol, nevertheless, was the cleaner fighter throughout, who was too content to fight behind his tight guard. He has since spoken about his disappointment with that performance and making the essential adjustments. With just just a few fights left in Beterbiev’s profession, a win for Bivol would arrange a lucrative trilogy bout. That is precisely what the boxing world wants and, quite frankly, needs.
Final Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol Prediction & Pick: Dmitry Bivol (+106)
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