More February fireworks with Beterbiev-Bivol 2

The recent announcement of David Morrell going up against David Benavidez on February 1st got fight fans excited about the first quarter of 2025. Now with word that Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KO’s) will face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KO’s) in a rematch has fans even more excited.

The two 175-pounders tangled in October for 12 rounds with Beterbiev taking a close MD – the first time he has ever gone the distance since turning pro 13 years ago. 

Beterbiev beat Bivol by the scores 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114. Bivol did his best work early and cemented a few of those rounds when Beterbiev was doing more walking than stalking. However, a mid to end-of-fight surge from the champion allowed him to keep his perfect ledger intact. 

One factor to consider is that (as Mike Tyson recently confirmed) Father Time is indeed undefeated. Beterbiev turns 40 in January and unless your last name is Hopkins that is old to be continuing in his current craft.

After the fight, both boxers realized if they do the rematch, there is little room for error. Can either one of them box better than their first go round? They both seem to think so.  

"I’m aware I have to do everything perfect, and I don’t have any explanation because it could look like excuses," said Bivol, “If I have this chance (for a rematch), yes. This is my dream, to be undisputed."

After their first fight, while Beterbiev did enough to win, he knows he can be better. 

"I wanted to box today with more quality," Beterbiev said. "I don’t know why, but I didn’t like this fight. But I’ll be better one day’, he said. 

One interested observer is undefeated David Benavidez who is taking on fellow unbeaten 175-pounder David Morrell who got the call after Benavidez gave up chasing Saul Alvarez for a shot. 

But, Benavidez feels he should get the winner of Bivol-Beterbiev. 

“To be honest with you I don’t see nothing getting in the way of this fight cause I have the WBC interim, Morrell has one of the world [titles], so getting that belt, there’s nothing that could stop me getting that fight cause I rightfully earned the shot from winning both belts”, he said.

Beterbiev, Bivol, Morrell, Benavidez, Alvarez, and others, equals a whole lotta light heavyweight fun for fight fans.