Dmitry Bivol is assured that he’ll be victorious on Saturday within the 5 vs. 5 occasion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within the title protection of his WBA gentle heavyweight belt towards substitute opponent Malik Zinad.
Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) had been planning on combating for the undisputed 175-lb championship towards IBF/WBC/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev, however he suffered a ruptured meniscus in coaching and needed to pull out.
Stepping As much as the Problem
Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs) was rapidly discovered and will probably be taking up the unbeaten Bivol on the Kingdom Area, stay on DAZN.
Bivol says Zinad, 30, reminds him of his final opponent, Lyndon Arthur, who he defeated by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous choice final December. That was a aggressive combat regardless of the scoring, and Bivol was even harm at one level within the combat within the eighth.
There’s going to be stress on Bivol to look good on this combat as a result of he’s going through an unknown fighter, who the boxing public believes has zero likelihood of successful. Bivol performed it protected in his final combat towards Arthur, selecting to field after being staggered by him.
Bivol’s Perspective on Zinad
“They requested me about Zinad. He simply received a combat and have become second within the IBF. They stated, ‘Do you need to combat with him?’ ‘If doable to make this combat, I will probably be glad,’” stated Dmitry Bivol to Queensberry about how Malik Zinad was picked because the alternative after Artur Beterbiev suffered a knee harm.
“We didn’t have a variety of choices. They requested about Zinad, and I stated, ‘I’m prepared.’”
It might be fascinating to know who else was supplied to Bivol as a alternative as a result of there are a variety of contenders that may soar on the likelihood to combat him in the event that they had been supplied good paydays to combat on Saturday’s 5 vs 5 card in Saudi Arabia.
“I nonetheless consider it’ll occur [fight against Beterbiev] as a result of he’ll get well, and he desires this combat. He has the same thoughts like mine. He desires to succeed in the utmost,” stated Bivol. “I hope I’ll do the whole lot nicely on Saturday night time, after which I can transfer ahead to this combat.”
The Bivol vs. Beterbiev combat is predicted to happen in both late this 12 months or within the first quarter of 2025. It’ll depend upon how nicely Beterbiev rehabs his knee.
“I’ve to respect him, and I’ve to be targeted,” stated Bivol about Zinad. “Yeah, he received his likelihood, and I’m positive he’ll attempt to do his finest. I’m knowledgeable athlete, a champion of the world. I’ve to show it once more.
“Earlier than I had a combat towards Lyndon Arthur, he was one of many choices. I noticed a few of his fights. His fashion is much like Lyndon Arthur’s. He makes use of his jab lots, and he’s good along with his right-hand counter punch, and he’s throwing lengthy.”
Zinad seems to have some energy, and that a minimum of offers him an opportunity of successful if he can harm Bivol with certainly one of his pictures. Bivol received somewhat overconfident towards Arthur and was shaken up by a proper hand from him within the eighth.
“That’s why they name it skilled boxer. Should you’re knowledgeable, you must attempt to change [opponents if someone is injured] from one scenario to a different,” stated Bivol. “It’s important to change typically within the ring. I’ve sufficient time to alter my sparring companions and alter my goal.
“Possibly he stated it, and he’s assured, however I’m assured additionally,” stated Bivol about Zinad saying he’s going to trigger an earthquake contained in the ring on Saturday. “I’ve to be higher. I’ve to beat him as a lot as I can,” stated Bivol.
