Photos: Vincent Ethier – Artur Beterbiev during his last walk, in Quebec City, last January.
Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will finally face Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) next Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. The stakes are high for the adopted Montrealer—huge, in fact—with his three titles on the line, in addition to Bivol’s two belts, if you include the IBO.
The bookmakers have likely been watching Bivol’s performance against Canelo on repeat, as the native of Kyrgyzstan is favored at -140 to win his 24th fight. But as George St-Pierre’s old Bet99 promo said: “Quebecers like me know”… there’s only one Artur! This isn’t just a matter of national pride. Globally, he’s the only champion with a perfect KO ratio, and according to his coach, Marc Ramsay, there’s a reason for that.
“He’s a guy who always gives it his all. He’s human, like anyone else; there are days when he’s less motivated. I can’t say he seems more motivated this time because we’re facing Bivol. The truth is, Artur is always 100% motivated in training.”
No promises of the “best training camp of his career” here. Dmitry Bivol won’t be facing Artur’s preparation of a lifetime, but rather, a lifetime of preparation.
“The Soviet Style”
Artur’s power is often talked about, earning him the nickname “The KO King” by some Americans, as well as the pressure and aggression he brings into the ring. Bivol, on the other hand, is quite different. It’s not so much that people are expecting an all-out war that’s driving the excitement for this fight, but rather the anticipation of seeing which style will prevail.
“Bivol is an extremely mechanical boxer. A guy who’s developed a precise, efficient technique and really specialized in it,” Ramsay comments.
If you go on YouTube or even TikTok, there are tons of videos breaking down Bivol’s style: good movement, solid footwork, excellent distance control, and above all, a barrage of punches, all while avoiding getting hit much. The punches may not always be the most powerful, but most are incredibly accurate.
Many even call it the “Soviet style.”
Legend has it that Artur Beterbiev has around 300 wins as an amateur, some of them against the likes of Usyk and Kovalev. Every style is different, and no one is exactly like Bivol, but it’s clear that the native of Dagestan won’t be unfamiliar with any kind of “Soviet style.”
“It’s certain that this is something he’s seen far more often than a North American boxer, for example. We don’t focus too much on that because Bivol could say the same thing, but Artur has seen it all.”
Extra Help
To get acclimated for the fight on October 12, Team Beterbiev arrived in Riyadh just over two weeks in advance. Alongside Artur, of course, are Marc Ramsay, his assistants Luc-Vincent Ouellet and John Scully, and for this specific fight, Nurjpasha Talibov…
Less known among the group—at least in Quebec—is Artur’s former Russian coach. “Former” isn’t exactly the right word, as Artur has also been training with him for the first part of his camps—in the mountains of Russia—for the past few years.
“As we mentioned earlier, we thought it could be interesting to have him with us because he, too, is very familiar with Bivol’s style.”
Back in Montreal
Meanwhile, in North America, Samuel Décarie-Drolet and Shawn Collinson ensure that everything runs smoothly at Ramsay’s Boxing Academy, where boxers like Moreno Fendero, Jhon Orobio, and Mehmet Unal are preparing for their respective returns.
And, after all, it’s on Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal, “his town,” where most of Artur’s preparation was done—not just for this fight but for many others. The triple light-heavyweight champion will soon fight in his 12th city in 21 bouts, and every time, the success has been achieved with the help of Quebec expertise.
“I think we’ve really proven over the years that we’re capable of developing boxers. Boxers from here, but also guys interested in coming here because of the expertise we’ve developed and the environment we offer. And it’s not just me—Stéphan Larouche has done it too,” Ramsay humbly said.
In a few numbers
As Marc Ramsay has already told me in the past: “it still takes a racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby.”
So in the end, it’s Artur who will race against Bivol on Saturday.
His record so far:
- 20-0, 20 KOs;
- 9-0, 9 KOs in world championships;
- 5-0, 5 KOs against former or current world champions;
- Olympian at the Beijing Games (2008) and London (2012);
- Amateur world champion (2009);
And all that to—one day—become “a good boxer.”
To be continued… very soon, live from the Kingdom.
