Highly Anticipated Beterbiev-Bivol Bout Postponed Due to Injury
Boxing Fans Left Disappointed as Injury Delays Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title Fight
(June 3, 2023) – Boxing fans worldwide were left disappointed as news broke that the much-anticipated undisputed light heavyweight title clash between champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol has been postponed. The highly anticipated showdown, initially scheduled for June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will now be rescheduled for later this year.
According to a press release from promoter Top Rank, Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus during training, forcing the postponement of the much-hyped “5v5” event that would have featured a clash between Matchroom and Queensbury fighters on the undercard.
Beterbiev, the reigning WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titleholder, has been unstoppable in his professional career, knocking out all 20 of his opponents to date. His power-punching style was set to collide with the elite boxing skills of WBA and IBO champion Bivol, promising a classic boxer-versus-puncher battle that many had anticipated as one of the best fights of 2023.
“The postponement was confirmed by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia and a key figure in orchestrating the Beterbiev-Bivol showdown. Alalshikh expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery for Beterbiev, while also assuring fans that the ‘5v5’ event will still proceed as scheduled on June 1.”
In an official statement, Top Rank revealed that plans are in place to reschedule the Beterbiev-Bivol clash for a later date this year, with more details to be provided in due course. The 39-year-old Beterbiev, who looked sharp in his January knockout victory over Callum Smith, has a history of injury issues that have occasionally disrupted his career.
While boxing enthusiasts will have to wait a bit longer for the much-anticipated unification bout, the postponement ensures that Beterbiev can fully recover and the fight can be rescheduled to deliver the high-quality matchup that fans have been craving.
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