Malik Zinad is getting a dream alternative to battle for a world title towards WBA mild heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night time on the 5VS5 card in Riyadh.
Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs) is available in as a alternative opponent after IBF/WBC/WBO 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus, leaving Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) quickly with out an opponent for his match, stay on DAZN PPV.
Bivol’s substitute, Zinad, is a troublesome one to tackle brief discover. Though he fights nothing like Beterbiev, he’s nonetheless a troublesome foe to battle and not using a full camp engaged on his model.
As promoter Eddie Heanr factors out, it is a potential Cinderella story for the 30-year-old Zinad. He’s been pushing for a possibility for an enormous battle for years, and now he’s getting his probability.
The hungry contender Zinad, who comes from Libya, can change his life financially if he wins as a result of he can be the brand new WBA mild heavyweight champion and would have the chance to both face Beterbiev for the undisputed title or meet Bivol in a profitable rematch.
A Persistent Underdog
“This battle is a troublesome one. Typically when a battle falls by means of, and a fighter is coaching for the largest battle of their profession, they’re most likely just a little bit deflated when that falls by means of, and also you get Malik Zinad,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn to the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5v5 open exercises, speaking about Dmitry Bivol now going through his alternative opponent Malik Zinad on Saturday as an alternative of his initially scheduled battle towards Artur Beterbiev.
Bivol may expertise a letdown. He’s been coaching onerous for the Beterbiev battle, and now he’s preventing the alternative, Zinad, with Fanfair. If Bivol isn’t motivated for this battle, he may lose.
Zinad seems more healthy this week than Bivol, and you may inform that it’s a neater activity for him to get all the way down to 175 than it’s for Dmitry. The champion, Bivol, seems haggard and badly fatigued as if he hasn’t slept in weeks.
“You don’t wish to be deflated towards any individual that has been dreaming of a possibility like this and is able to put every little thing into it,” mentioned Hearn. “I like guys like this. Malik Zinad has been in my DMs for 3 or 4 years, simply saying, ‘Please, I’ll battle anybody. Simply give me the chance.’”
Bivol has bought to be upset at not getting the battle towards Beterbiev, and winding up with Zinad as an alternative of one of many well-known contenders ready for a world title shot. There was doubtless no probability to get one of many prime mild heavyweight contenders to step in as a last-minute alternative opponent as a result of they’re not going to mess up their careers by taking over a technical fighter like Bivol and not using a full camp.
“You simply noticed him go to Australia and beat an undefeated fighter away from house in an eliminator for a world title,” mentioned Hearn about Zinad. “He doesn’t care the place he goes or the place he fights. For him, this is a chance of a lifetime. I mentioned to Dmitry, ‘You bought to be switched on on the market. Don’t simply assume that is a simple night time’s work, just a little warm-up earlier than Beterbiev. These sorts of issues can come crashing down actual fast.’”
Bivol says he’s not overlooking Zinad, however he seems terrible this week, and he won’t be 100% prepared for this battle. Zinada may pull off the upset towards a deflated, exhausted Bivol if it goes all the way down to vitality and enthusiasm.
A Warning for Bivol
“Two guys 22-0. Dmitry, if he’s switched on, he wins this battle in model, however the rest, and he has a tough night time’s work with this man,” mentioned Hearn. “Have a look at this scene in Riyadh. When you’re Zinad, you’re strolling on air proper now. If Zinad wins on Saturday night time, he’s coming again to Riyadh season. He’s altering his life financially. He’s change into world champion.”
It doesn’t get any higher than this for Zinad. That is his Tremendous Bowl, and he’s going to be able to battle tooth & nail on Saturday night time to ship Bivol all the way down to his first defeat.
“This man has been floating round for a very long time. Shane McGuigan skilled him for some time as effectively. The quantity of those that have mentioned to me through the years, ‘Oh, I bought this actually good fighter. He’s known as Malik Zinad.’ I regarded a few instances and thought, ‘What may we do with him?’
