Shakur Stevenson reveals how Dmitry Bivol can only beat Artur Beterbiev

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson may be sidelined with a hand injury, but that's not stopping him from looking forward to one of boxing's biggest showdowns. With his fight against Joe Cordina on hold following surgery, Stevenson has turned his attention to the highly anticipated fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, scheduled to take place on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Although Stevenson won't be pulling on the gloves that night, his excitement for the event is palpable. This isn't just any fight – it's an undisputed clash between two of the most dangerous men in the light heavyweight division. Beterbiev, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, is known for his brutal knockout power, while WBA champion Bivol is the epitome of technical precision. It's a classic clash of power and skill, and Stevenson has spoken out about how he envisions this fight playing out.

The champion not only picked his favorite, but also shared a plan on how to win the fight and added his expert opinion on what it will take to emerge victorious. So now the question remains: will Bivol's technical mastery prevail or will Beterbiev's devastating power be too much for him? Either way, boxing fans are in for a treat.

A 50:50 fight

According to Outlaw, the fight between Bivol and Beterbiev will be evenly matched. Bivol, who lives in Texas, cannot name a clear winner and explained that the result will depend on the pace of the fight. “Beterbiev vs. Bivol is a real 50/50 fight for me. Can Beterbiev hit Bivol with bullseyes? Or will Bivol stall Beterbiev because of his power, like many of his other opponents do? … I think the fight will come down to the pace at which it is fought 🤔,” wrote an excited Stevenson.

The main fight between Bivol and Beterbiev will be a battle of styles. On the one hand, few have been able to withstand the power of Beterbiev. His lethal punches can knock the wind out of anyone's lungs at any time. But if there is anyone who can match his power and speed, it is Bivol. The Kyrgyzstan-born boxer will have to set the range of the fight to his liking and always be one step ahead of the Russian boxer. But since both boxers have a fairly similar reach, this could be a problem.

Stevenson seems to have picked a favorite, but that too is conditional. Find out more.

Shakur Stevenson chooses his favorite

Although Stevenson believes the fight will be close, he has picked his winner for the fight. According to the WBC lightweight champion, Bivol can win the fight if he controls the pace of the fight. When a fan asked Stevenson about his choice, the boxer replied: “I am excited about Bivol and think he needs to pick up the pace at the beginning,” without wasting time.

This also means that Bivol will have to last all 12 rounds, as it will be almost impossible for him to defeat Beterbiev. Bivol has won 12 of his 23 wins by KObut 9 of his last 10 wins came by unanimous decision (UD). On the other hand, Beterbiev has proven to be quite a horror, winning 20 fights, everything by KO.

What do you think of Shakur Stevenson's prediction? Can Bivol surpass Betrebiev's pace and become undisputed champion? Let us know below.