Artur Beterbiev Says He Feels Finally Healthy Going Into Dmitry Bivol Bout

Artur Beterbiev says he feels finally healthy going into his bout against Dmitry Bivol on Saturday.

Beterbiev and Bivol are set to unify the light heavyweight division in a highly-anticipated bout. It’s a key fight for the division and the sport of boxing and heading into the bout, Beterbiev says he’s finally healthy once again.

“I am healthy,” Beterbiev told BoxingScene. “It feels good to be very close and almost there. It’s not a big challenge. It’s normal. Everyone gets some injury. Sometimes you [rehab] well and sometimes you don’t. This time we did well. When you have injuries, you do some modifications in training camps. We did some different things, and good things, that are much better now. I feel that I am young. Not like 29, but I am young.” 

Heading into the bout, Artur Beterbiev is a slight betting underdog but he has confidence he will be able to pull off the upset.

However, Beterbiev knows the fight will be tough as he expects it to go 12 rounds but is hopeful he can find the KO shot.

“We’ll see [why Bivol is the best opponent I’ve ever faced]. We never know who’s the best. We’ll know after the fight,” said Beterbiev. “He has great experience and is a good boxer. He’s a good challenge for me. We’re prepared for different things and different scenarios in this fight. We are always trying to be ready 100 per cent. I’m not worried about [critics]. I’m only worried about my fight. And I try to do that only.

“I never make predictions for a fight. I’m a simple boxer who tries to do my best. We’re always prepared for 12 rounds. We do the maximum. Yes, we’ll see [if the knockout comes]. We’re not focused on a knockout. If it happens, it happens.”

Artur Beterbiev is 20-0 as a pro and coming off a TKO win over Callum Smith.