Gvozdyk Claims Bivol is Overrated

Former WBC light heavyweight champion (up to 79.4 kg) from Ukraine, Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), shared his thoughts on the upcoming absolute championship fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

"It's a 50/50 fight, but if I were betting money, I'd put it on Beterbiev. Over the last two-three years of his amateur career, he fought at cruiserweight, and he is naturally much bigger than Bivol, who, I heard, isn't that heavy. This will play a role because Beterbiev will be bigger, stronger, and heavier. Bivol is an excellent fighter, but in my personal opinion, he's overrated. He's good, but people think he's unbeatable. I don’t think so. I don’t think Beterbiev thinks so either. It will be a very tough fight for Bivol. Beterbiev just knocks people out; that’s how he wins fights. In the fight against me, against Anthony Yarde, he was losing and then just did his job. I think the same will eventually happen with Bivol," said Gvozdyk.

In 2019, Gvozdyk faced Beterbiev, leading on the judges' scorecards but losing by stoppage in the 10th round. Gvozdyk's next fight will take place in the summer against David Benavidez for the "interim" WBC light heavyweight title. Beterbiev and Bivol are set to meet on June 1st in Saudi Arabia.