Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev collide on October 12, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, in what could potentially be the best fight of 2024.
The light-heavyweight champions have been on a collision course for a number of years now and they’ll finally decide who is the world's best 175lb fighter.
The battle, that has the whole boxing world excited, is set to join other legendary contests at light-heavyweight that have featured some of the sport’s biggest ever names, including Archie Moore, Michael Spinks, and Roy Jones Jr.
Here at DAZN News ,we’ve taken one of those legendary fighters and placed him into a fantasy fight against one of this era’s greatest combatants.
Let's take a closer look at Dmitry Bivol vs. Roy Jones Jr, and how that epic event could potentially play out.
- Read more | Eddie Hearn outlines favourite for Beterbiev-Bivol clash
- Read more | Ariel Helwani reveals which combat superstar pegged Beterbiev for greatness
Dmitry Bivol - a safety-first, calculating fighter
Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
An outstanding amateur who turned professional in 2014, Bivol has raced his way to the top of the light-heavyweight division in an impressive manner.
Highly skilled with an impressive jab, Bivol’s rise has been one performed in a calculating manner that sees him hardly waste a shot or even take a risk.
Very much a safety-first fighter. Bivol is more than content to build up a healthy points advantage and he’s absolutely mastered fighting the 12-round distance at his own pace.
An interim world champion in only his seventh fight, Bivol was eventually upgraded as he continued to dominate numerous contenders.
His marquee performance arrived in 2022 when he upset significant odds to comfortably defeat Canelo Alvarez to retain his world title.
This victory elevated Bivol’s profile as he proved he could deal with elite fighters by taking out one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
Since defeating Canelo, Bivol has maintained his perfect record with wins over the likes of Gilberto Ramirez and Lyndon Arthur.
Roy Jones Jr - at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list
(Getty Images)
After sensationally having an Olympic gold medal stolen from him following a controversial decision at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Roy Jones would turn professional the following year.
What happened next was a career that would have many people labelling Jones as one of the best fighters of all time.
Wins over the likes of Bernard Hopkins and James Toney confirmed Jones Jr as a special fighter and for the best part of ten years, he found himself at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list.
Even against elite opposition, Jones Jr looked levels above thanks to his incredible speed, timing, and footwork. Not applying a textbook style, Jones Jr's unique approach was based on movement and angles as he landed on opponents from a variety of positions.
Capable of attacking the head and body, Jones Jr had power in both hands, but it was his left hook that could do the most damage as he often landed in it after leaping quickly into position before exiting before anything could be thrown back.
Following a dominant run at light-heavyweight where he easily outclassed the majority of his rivals, Jones Jr, following spells at 160lbs and super-middleweight, bypassed cruiserweight completely to become WBA heavyweight champion after beating John Ruiz on points.
A return to light-heavyweight proved to be disastrous for Jones as he endured a pair of tough loess against Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson with some believing the weight loss efforts returning to his former weight class made Jones Jr more vulnerable.
Despite being past his best, Jones would continue fighting on, trading wins and losses against some top operators before finally walking away from the sport in 2023 after a defeat to Anthony Pettis.
After enduring mixed form for the last portion of his career, Jones Jr was perhaps not appreciated the way he should have been by modern fight fans, but his outstanding form from his debut until the first Tarver loss correctly demonstrate why Jones Jr is an all-time great.
Jones Jr vs. Bivol – How does the fight play out?
Jones Jr begins the fight a decent favourite due to his experience at the highest level and he spends the first four rounds figuring out Bivol’s style.
Bivol starts the contest well beating Jones Jr to the jab, and although the first part of the fight is largely quiet, it’s Bivol who takes an early lead.
By round six, Bivol’s jab isn’t having the same impact and it’s Jones Jr who is scoring more frequently and often countering Bivol’s attacks with right hands that Bivol has no choice but to acknowledge.
Jones Jr's big advantage in speed is helping him accumulate rounds, and although Bivol is aware of what he had to do to get back into the fight, Jones Jr's superiority is beginning to show.
Jones Jr takes over the fight in the Championship rounds and Bivol’s work has a desperate look to it as he looks to force his way back into the fight. The occasional showboating from Jones Jr brings some volume from the crowd, but he still has to be wary of Bivol who is trying to force the Florida man to the ropes.
After 12 rounds, the pair embrace before going to the scorecards where Jones Jr is handed a unanimous verdict with scores making him a clear winner in a competitive fight.
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