WBA Light Heavyweight Titleholder Bivol Remains Focused Despite Opponent Change
Boxing enthusiasts eagerly awaited the highly anticipated undisputed light heavyweight clash between WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol and three-belt champion Artur Beterbiev. However, the bout scheduled for this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed due to Beterbiev’s ruptured meniscus.
Undeterred, the 33-year-old Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) will now face the undefeated Malik Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs) in a last-minute adjustment. Despite the change in opponent, Bivol remains steadfast in his approach, refusing to overlook the 30-year-old Libyan fighter, who recently upset the previously undefeated Jerome Pampellone.
“Now I have Zinad. I don’t want to talk about [an] undisputed fight,” Bivol told Fight Hub TV. “I wasn’t happy when I heard the news [of Beterbiev’s withdrawal], but I had to change fast, and I asked what were the options.”
Bivol’s last fight was a unanimous decision victory over Lyndon Arthur in December, ending a 13-month stretch of inactivity, the second-longest of his career. The Russian champion believes the previous delays in his career have taught him the value of patience and emotional control.
“I am trying to not follow my emotions,” Bivol explained. “You should not follow your emotions because your brain will not like it in the future. Now I just try to be like a machine – see and win.”
Regarding his training camp, Bivol emphasized that he does not want to diminish the efforts of his previous camps, as he strives to give his best in preparation for each opponent.
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