WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is 100% dialed in for his title defense against Lyndon Arthur this Saturday night on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card, but he can’t wait to capture the remaining three belts from the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith fight next month on January 13th.
(Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) expects challenger Lyndon (23-1, 16 KOs) to play it safe and not give him any openings to land his punches. Lyndon was knocked out by Anthony Yarde in 2021, and he doesn’t want to have that happen to him again if he can help it.
This is Bivol’s first fight back since his title defense against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez nearly a year ago in November 2022, and it’s important that he use the clash against Arthur to get some rounds in to keep him sharp to face the Beterbiev-Smith winner.
Last year was a big one for Bivol, with him defeating Canelo Alvarez and Zurdo Ramirez. There had been talk of Canelo trying to avenge his loss against Bivol, but he decided against taking that fight, which makes sense for him because he was outclassed and too small.
Bivol focused on Lyndon
“I feel great that I have a fight, and I feel this, and I smell the glory on Saturday night,” said Dmitry Bivol to DAZN Boxing, talking about his contest against Lyndon Arthur on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card.
“I’m sure he’ll be focused all fight. He’ll try to be safe and not open and use his good sides like his jab,” said Bivol about Lyndon.
It would be great if the Bivol-Lyndon fight steals the show from the top two cards involving Deontay Wilder & Anthony Joshua, but it’s unlikely to happen because Arthur has been picked out to serve a dual purpose for Bivol as a showcase opponent and a tune-up. Unless Bivol is extremely ring-rusty, he should win with ease and he won’t steal the show.
Arthur likely won’t take any chances of fighting aggressively because he would be leaving himself open to being countered by Bivol. At the same time, if Lyndon doesn’t take risks in this fight, he will get outboxed and take a lot of punishment like Zurdo and Canelo did in their losses to Bivol.
“I’m focused now on the light heavyweight division, but maybe in the future. Who knows?” said Bivol when asked if he could move up to cruiserweight to take on the recently stripped former IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
Dmitry content with undercard assignment
“I want to fight for belts. [Artur] Beterbiev or [Callum] Smith, it doesn’t matter,” said Bivol when asked who he would like to face next if he could pick anybody to fight. “I want the winner of this fight.
“No, I won’t be going [to be ringside for the January 13th clash between IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Beterbiev and Smith]. I’ll be on vacation with my fiance and family.”
The Saudis reportedly want the Bivol vs. Beterbiev-Smith winner for the undisputed clash, so that’s a fight that is expected to happen next if Dmitry wins on Saturday against Lyndon.
“I’ll be resting mentally, not fighting. Eating the food and enjoying the food and enjoying my family and once a day running and short training,” said Bivol on what he’ll do while he waits for his next fight after Saturday’s title defeat against Lyndon.
“I’m so glad our team got this fight and this future event. But we have great names here,” said Bivol when told that it seems weird that he’s not headlining this Saturday night on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card rather than being on the undercard.
“From this event, they could make four main events, minimum. Wilder & Parker,” said Bivol on what fight on Saturday’s card that he’s most interested in seeing. “I just know that Parker isn’t easy for Wilder at all, and he shouldn’t look after him.”
