'Not my enemy, not my friend' - Dmitry Bivol aiming to 'keep personal emotions out' against Artur Beterbiev
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/02/image-dfe2a7b1-16b3-40a7-aa20-5e002e65941a-68-310-310.jpeg)
Updated 09/10/2024 at 17:20 GMT+1
Dmitry Bivol is determined to keep emotion out of the ring when he faces former team-mate Artur Beterbiev for the unified light heavyweight title on Saturday, live on TNT Sports Box Office. Bivol described his opponent as "not my enemy and not my friend" in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports and said he is "trying to keep personal emotions out of the job" rather than engage in trash talk.
Bivol relishing chance to test himself against 'great fighter' Beterbiev
Video credit: TNT Sports
Dmitry Bivol insists his hotly anticipated unified title fight with Artur Beterbiev is “just business” and that his former national team-mate is “not my enemy and not my friend.”
The two undefeated Russians go head-to-head in Riyadh on Saturday, live on TNT Sports Box Office, in a bout that will see one of their undefeated streaks end.
Bivol (23-0) has been the WBA light heavyweight champion since 2017, while Beterbiev (20-0) holds the WBC, IBF and WBO belts and has a 100% knockout rate in his professional career.
The winner will become the first undisputed world champion of the light heavyweight division since Roy Jones Jr. in 1999, but Bivol told TNT Sports he is doing everything to keep emotion out of the ring.
“It’s just business. I don’t have anything personal with him,” Bivol said.
“He’s not my enemy, he’s not my friend. He is just a good fighter who I respect. What he’s doing in the ring is good. I want to check my skills. I want to win this great fight.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/04/4048178-82101208-2560-1440.jpg)
Beterbiev v Bivol - The Face-Off
Video credit: TNT Sports
He added: “I’m trying to keep personal emotions out of the job… we are professional fighters and if you are really a pro, you have to put your emotions out of the business.”
The two fighters were team-mates with the Russian national team when they were amateurs, albeit while competing in different weight categories.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/08/4049733-82132308-2560-1440.jpg)
‘I find it quite arrogant’ - Hearn calls Beterbiev's reserved demeanour ‘disrespectful’
Video credit: TNT Sports
But 33-year-old Bivol, six years Beterbiev’s junior, insists he didn’t pick up any tips or tricks from training alongside his decorated compatriot.
“I didn’t copy him at all because it’s different styles,” Bivol said.
“I was watching him, how he was doing with the other guys. I was watching and learning how it could be, but I didn’t use it or try it.”
- 'It is a little secret' - Beterbiev hints at plan to defeat Bivol and become undisputed champion
- 'The final step' - Bivol wants to prove 'sacrifices' worthwhile with Beterbiev victory
Neither Beterbiev nor Bivol have shown interest in sparking a verbal back-and-forth in the build-up to their showdown.
Beterbiev told TNT Sports that "I have never done trash talk in my boxing career and I don't want to start now”, and Bivol was similarly uninterested.
“I respect him because first of all, we have similar spirit,” Bivol said.
“All fighters, all athletes, have a similarity that we want to achieve something. I know he’s working hard, like I’m working hard also.
“He’s going to fight against me in the ring and these things deserve respect. It’s just business.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/07/4049500-82127653-2560-1440.jpg)
'It's not my style' - Beterbiev on why he refuses to engage in trash talk
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bivol also gave his thoughts on another huge recent fight, Daniel Dubois’ stunning knockout win over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium.
According to the Russian, Joshua’s loss was a prime example of why emotion should be stripped from the ring.
“I was surprised a little bit, but this is why we love boxing, because it can be an unexpected result,” Bivol said.
“Joshua wasn’t ready from the first round. I didn’t watch the full fight, but I saw some clips and he made a mistake in the last part when he got knocked out.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/08/4049546-82128573-2560-1440.jpg)
Beterbiev v Bivol is 'extra, extra special' fight - Warren
Video credit: TNT Sports
“The mistake was that you can’t punch with a single uppercut from distance.
“This is why we should always be focused. At that time, I think Joshua had a lot of emotions, (he thought) that he could just finish him. He forgot about some foundational rules."
How to watch Beterbiev v Bivol
Beterbiev v Bivol on TNT Sports Box Office costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video and Virgin Media TV. You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy this event.
discovery+ - TNT Sports Box Office events are available to purchase and watch in the discovery+ app – on smart TV’s, computer or mobile device, viewers wanting to watch the fight should visit https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/ppv-purchases and follow instructions to subscribe and then purchase the event.
EE TV - Customers can purchase the event via their STB on channel 494.
Prime Video - Customers do not need to have a Prime or discovery+ subscription to access this event. You can find live and upcoming PPV events in the “Live and upcoming events” row on the Prime Video homepage and sports page, or by searching for a specific event title.
Virgin Media TV - Customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View events rail.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement