British light heavyweight prospect Dan Aziz (18-0, 12 KOs) gave
interview local news portal.
Aziz expressed his opinion about the upcoming performance of his compatriot, ex-challenger Anthony Yard (23-2, 22 KOs) against the owner of three titles from Canada Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs). Note that Aziz helped Beterbiev in preparation for last year’s unification bout against former US champion Joe Smith Jr. Pospect answered questions about Arthur’s vulnerabilities and what he wants to achieve.
“There is a big fight ahead. The second big opportunity for the Yard. As for me, this is a more difficult opportunity than the first with Kovalev. Beterbiev doesn’t look like he has a lot of vulnerabilities and he also seems to be close to his peak. What can Yard do to win this fight?
“I think he has power in him. But once again, as for me, there are not so many vulnerabilities in Beterbiev’s boxing. Even if we discard the vulnerabilities. He is someone who takes any opposition seriously. Even if he is the favorite, even if everyone thinks that he will go through the opponent – he takes any opposition very seriously. That’s why I think it’s going to be very, very difficult. When Yarde fought Kovalev, it was a different stage in his career. I know what Beterbiev wants to achieve, what he wants to do.
– What is it? Is it to unify all division titles?
– Mustache.
– Really?
– Yes Yes Yes.
“We have already offered Usyk a fight.” Beterbiev’s interview
We have heard talk about it.
“He’s not big enough, but he hits hard enough to be a cruiser. Of course, I want to win all the titles. For him, Yard is a person who can become an obstacle. And he doesn’t want that. I remember being at his place and watching him prepare for Joe Smith. He prepared very carefully.
What did he say about Usyk?
He’s just mad at him [смеётся]and he really wants to get even.
– Still? It was so long ago.
– I think he said that he was evil, because he was then in Russia, and each country has its own policy in boxing. He wanted to compete in light heavyweight, but because of politics, he had to rise above. In fact, he didn’t want to be a cruiser. It seems to me that he told me that every time he fought with Usyk, he dropped him, but did not get a decision in his favor. I think he beat him once and lost twice. I do not remember exactly. Maybe he lost to him in all the fights, but he dropped him every time.
When you sparred with him or watched others spar with him, was there anything you noticed that bothered him, which could be a vulnerability?
– Yes [смеётся]. But I don’t want to talk. We all people. We all have vulnerabilities. It’s about whether you can use them. There are no perfect ones, everyone has some kind of vulnerability. The point here is whether your opponent will be able to use them to have an advantage.