Artur Beterbiev said his team changed “a few things” with its game against Dmitry Bival on February 22. Changes to undisputed light heavyweight champion Beterbiev's (21-0, 20 KOs) team are likely to apply more pressure and not allow Bivol to escape as he moves around the ring.

Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) won't stand and trade, as he won't last more than a few rounds against Beterbiev in their rematch in Riyadh. last time we saw

Adapting to win

In one instance of the fight where Beevel stood his ground in the seventh round, Beterbiev clipped him and he was stunned. This was the first and last time Bivol tried to trade fights.

In the rematch, Bival will use Shakur-esque Hit and run Style he engaged in the first fight with Beterbiev, but perhaps he will include A lot of clinching. When Beevel took over, he neutralized Arthur's offense and controlled him. He'd get close enough to throw his little punch. Bivol's running and holding is annoying to watch, but it's his only way to win.

Dimitri is not built to slog against a powerhouse like Beterbiev, a non-bivel, and doesn't have an amateur background for such a fighter. Bivol was a good amateur but not on the level of two-time Olympian Beterbiev.

However, Beterbiev is a smart fighter, and he has fought many fighters in the past who used excessive holding to shut down his offense. He will know what to do to deal with this strategy.

Strategic shift

“My team, we changed some different things, but we can't tell you. The second fight, we're going to see what happens there,” said Artur Beterbiev Pro boxing fanIn response to being told that Anthony Joshua had picked Dimitri Bival to beat him in a rematch on February 22nd.

“Mentally, you have to focus. Even if someone said it was a close fight, I felt I won,” Beterbiev said of his previous fight against Bivel on October 12 last year. “We need enough change to win. It didn't surprise me, but he did a good job,” Artur said when asked if Dimitri did anything in the first fight that 'surprised' him.

“I felt I had won the fight. I didn't see that (Beterbiev's power reaching Bivol).”

☝️ @bivol_d 👑#BetterbievBivol2 | February 22 | @DAZNboxing pic.twitter.com/CzQMuZsCMf

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 17, 2025

BetterBev vs. Bivel face off for the second time in a historic event The Last Crescendo for the Undisputed World Championship 🔥🥊

Riyadh
22 February 🗓️

Book your tickets nowhttps://t.co/8aQHpjE9Un#bigtime#Riyadh season pic.twitter.com/13ElUfG02F

— Turki Alalsikh (@turki_lalsikh) January 16, 2025