Artur Beterbiev vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk – official weigh-in results

By Boxing News - 10/17/2019 - Comments

By Mark Eisner: Artur Beterbiev and Oleksand Gvozdyk both made weight on Thursday for their light heavyweight unification clash this Friday night on Top Rank Boxing on ESPN at the Liacouras Center, in Philadelphia. The unbeaten IBF light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KOs) weighed in at 174.5 lbs, while WBC champion Gvozdyk (17-0, 14 KOs) weighed in slightly less at 174.3 lbs.

(Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)

Beterbiev looked menacing during face off

Both fighters played it cool during the face off with neither of them showing much emotion. Beterbiev, 34, looked to be the more confident of the two. During the face off, Beterbiev looked like he was staring holes through Gvozdyk, who finally broke off the stare down and turned away.

Beterbiev’s previous win over Gvozdyk in their fight in the amateurs may be affecting the mindset of Oleksandr, because he did not look confident at all. Gvozdyk might need for his trainer Teddy Atlas to give him one of his pep talks that he’s famous for giving.

Who can forget the ‘fireman’ pep talk that Atlas gave Tim Bradley for his fight against Brandon Rios in 2015. Despite the fact that the contest was a complete mismatch, Atlas made it sound like it was a dire situation for Bradley. “The fire is coming,” said a shouting Atlas to Bradley in between rounds. “Are you ready for the fire? We are FIREMAN! The heat doesn’t bother us. We live in the heat. We train in the heat. Flames don’t bother us. We control the flames, and then we extinguish them.”

Gvozdyk needs to fight smart

Hopefully, Atlas doesn’t come unglued between rounds on Friday night, because he needs Gvozdyk to be level-headed. If Atlas gets Gvozdyk charged up with one of his motivation speeches in between rounds, he may rush head first into one of Beterbiev’s fight hand bombs. For Gvozdyk to win, he’s has to use his intelligence. He’s not going to beat Beterbiev by battling him in the trenches. Gvozdyk lacks the chin, and his nose may get broken again if he starts trading with Beterbiev

Beterbiev continued to stare at Gvozdyk even when he turned away. At that point, Beterbiev glared at Gvozdyk’s trainer, as if to send a message that things won’t go well for them on Friday night.

The fight action kicks off on Friday night on ESPN at 10:00 p.m ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Other weights on the Beterbiev vs. Gvozdyk card:

  • Luis Collazo 146.4 lbs vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov 147.1 lbs
    (Welterweight – 10 Rounds)

ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Sonny Conto 214.1 lbs vs. Steven Lyons 201.9 lbs
    (Heavyweight – 4 Rounds)
  • Joseph Adorno 136.8 lbs vs. Damian Sosa 134.7 lbs
    (Lightweight – 8 Rounds)
  • Jeremy Adorno 121.1 lbs vs. Misael Reyes 121.2 lbs
    (Super Bantamweight – 4 Rounds)
  • Josue Vargas 140.2 lbs vs. Johnny Rodriguez 140.5 lbs
    (Super Lightweight – 8 Rounds)
  • Michael Seals 174.6 lbs vs. Elio Heraldo Trosch 173.2 lbs
    (Light Heavyweight – 8 Rounds)

SWING BOUT

  • Julian Rodriguez 142.6 lbs vs. Leonardo Doronio 139 lbs
    (Super Lightweight – 6 Rounds)

Beterbiev vs. Gvozdyk ticket information

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing, tickets priced at $150, $90, $75 and $50 (not including applicable fees) can be purchased at the Liacouras Center Box Office, www.liacourascenter.com or charge by phone at 800-298-4200.

YouTube video