George Groves is backing Artur Beterbiev to emerge victorious in a potential meeting with light-heavyweight rival, Dmitry Bivol, if the pair meet this year.
The decorated pair have occupied the top two spots at 175lbs in recent years and it’s speculated that we may found out who is number one with both men seemingly agreeing to do battle at some point in 2024.
Beterbiev enhanced his credentials this past weekend with a destructive victory over Callum Smith as he stopped the Liverpool man in seven rounds.
Bivol’s last fight came against Lyndon Arthur in December when he won on points, and with both unbeaten men heading into the bout in superb form, Groves, a former world champion, has had his say on the contest.
“You have to have a really good jab to establish, create and maintain that distance with Beterbiev. If you don’t have that jab that keeps him busy, honest and at long range then he will eventually just march you back,” said Groves on talkSPORT.
“Every time Smith had his back on the ropes he was in severe danger. Bivol is much more comfortable boxing off the ropes, but I think Beterbiev’s the favourite. Maybe there’s recency bias there. I probably go with Beterbiev win, but I wouldn’t be confident on it.”