Dmitry Bivol says he studied the fights of former five-division world champion Sugar Ray Leonard to use his fighting style as a template for his undisputed light heavyweight match against Artur Beterbiev last Saturday night in Riyadh.
Where Bivol’s strategy to switch to Leonard 2.0 failed was to forget to deal with Beterbiev during the championship rounds from 9 to 12. The Sugar Ray-esque style copied by Bivol didn’t allow him to throw enough to win any of the last four or even. the last six rounds. That style ruined Bivol’s chances of victory.
Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) believed that 1976 Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray’s style, which used quick movements and combinations, would limit Beterbiev’s punching power as a knockout artist. To Bivol’s credit, it came close to succeeding. Lost 12-round majority decision to IBF, WBC, and WBO 175-lb champion Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs)
Throughout the fight, Bivol moved, threw quick jabs and combinations, and never allowed Beterbiev to have a stationary target to deliver his non-stop powerful shots. Beterbiev was forced to follow Bivol around, and it was difficult for him to get anything in the first six rounds.
Bivol Used Leonard’s Fighting Style
“My favorite fight is Sugar Ray Leonard. My schedule was moving a lot because I watched many Ray Leonard fights before this fight,” said Dmitry Bivol on Fight Hub TV talking about how he prepared for the Artur Beterbiev fight by watching Sugar Ray Leonard’s fights.
“Hagler Vs. Leonard, Duran vs. Leonard the second fight. I was impressed with how Leonard was swinging all 12 rounds without stopping. Sometimes, if he stopped..he would do a combination and then swing again. He was unstoppable [stationary],” said Bivol.
Leonard’s method would have worked for Bivol if he had the same judges as Sugar Ray in the Marvin Hagler fight because those guys were ignoring the pressure that was being applied and the heavy shots that were being hit. Hagler was robbed in the eyes of many fans.
Conor Benn Recognized Beterbiev as the Winner
“I look and I go, ‘Beterbiev is in control of the fight.’ Nothing Bivol threw at him worked well. He [Beterbiev] he was oppressive. He’s not the fastest first, but he breaks his man,” said Conor Benn on iFL TV, discussing why he saw Beterbiev as the winner against Bivol.
Unrelenting pressure from Beterbiev made Bivol go down, and his movement drained his batteries. If Bivol had fought like he did against Canelo Alvarez, he would have had a better chance of beating Beterbiev.
Against Canelo, Bivol strictly used an out-and-out style. He was motionless in the ring in endless circles, wasting energy. Bivol was new to the championship rounds and finished strong. In the Beterbiev match, Bivol used his power with his movement and had nothing in the tank after six rounds. That is why Beterbiev took over.
“I believe he did enough and definitely won the second half. “Bivol had some good times, but you could see the aging,” Benn said. “He was walking slowly. I think Beterbiev won the round. I think Beterbiev is a murderer. I think you are patient. I think he is disciplined.
“The way he was able to continue with the course. He might lose rounds, but he stopped studying, and stayed focused to do what he had to do. A few of his fights started like that. He started slowly and put on his person.
“I thought Bivol did well early on, but you could see him slowing down. I think there were three rounds where he didn’t throw. His work looked glamorous. His work looked very bright and eye-catching when he bowled. But I don’t think he threw enough at the bully. “I don’t think Bivol did enough to strip him of his belts,” said Benn.
Bivol’s dominant style of Sugar Ray Leonard came back to haunt him in the championship round against Beterbiev, as he ran out of fuel, and what little energy he had left due to his exhaustion. Every move Bivol made emptied his fuel tank.
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