The former world champion and current boxing columnist, Briton Tony Bellew, did not retract his words – he still believes that the unified light heavyweight champion, Russian Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), playing under the flag of Canada (19-0, 19 KOs) is very vulnerable. So he commented on the victory of the knockout over the mandatory challenger Briton Anthony Yard (23-3, 22 KOs).
Beterbiev Yard. Fireworks in London — report from vRINGe
Bellew
remindedthat ‘styles make fights. I know that the fans will be ready to shoot me for saying this, but still I will say it anyway. Callum Smith knocks out Beterbiev in 6 rounds. Why is that? Because Arthur opens up too much during the fight, it’s too easy to hit him. Like I said before, he’s vulnerable. And it will be especially evident in the duel with Callum.
With a high degree of probability, it is Smith who will become the next opponent of Beterbiev – he is the mandatory contender in the WBC line. But it is possible that the puncher will be able to agree on a unification fight with the owner of the WBA Super belt, compatriot Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs).
Bellew believes that Beterbiev will also lose to him: “Bivol will beat him. Or rather, outboxing. In relation to Bivol, I committed a mortal sin – underestimated him on the eve of the fight with Canelo Alvarez. But these two fights – with Canelo and Gilberto Ramirez – were fantastic. So now I rate Bivol very highly. Unique footwork. He moves like a welterweight. I think he’ll just “maneuver” Beterbiev and beat him on points.”
At the post-match press conference, Beterbiev modestly assessed his victory over Yarde: “I was lucky.” And the loser claims, “Arthur said it was the toughest fight of his career.”
