LIGHT HEAVY LIES THE CROWN
A s legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer was going through the introductions for the undisputed light heavyweight rematch between champion Artur Beterbiev and challenger Dmitry Bivol, I fondly envisioned a few of boxing history’s most memorable collisions at 175 pounds. The scenes at The Venue in Riyadh conjured up images of Archie Moore vs. Yvon Durelle from 1958, Bob Foster vs. Dick Tiger from 1968, and Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi from 1983. I was watching grainy versions of these fights on VHS tape 30 years ago. All of the light heavyweight marbles were at stake on those glory nights, and now, just a few feet away, was the 2025 equivalent. It was a privilege to be there. When the bell sounded, Beterbiev and Bivol resumed their rivalry with the same energy and fighting spirit that laced their first encounter in October. This was Round 13. Beterbiev cut off the ring rapidly and released his signature power shots, while the quick-moving Bivol sought the escape routes, jabbed brilliantly and countered with quick-fisted attacks from the outside. At the end of 12 action-packed rounds, Bivol had evened the score, offsetting his majority decision loss to Beterbiev last October with an MD victory of his own. At ringside was the great Bernard Hopkins of Golden Boy Promotions. The former two-weight world champion and Hall of Famer had just watched one of his company’s crown jewels, Vergil Ortiz Jr., make a late charge to outpoint former WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov on the undercard. In September 2001, Hopkins became the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvelous Marvin Hagler ruled that division in the 1980s. However, the old-school Philly warrior also enjoyed considerable success at light heavyweight, claiming
Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA and WBC titles between 2006 and 2014. Also, like Beterbiev, Hopkins maintained his elite-level status and pound-for-pound position into his 40s – a rarity. “Beterbiev and Bivol are great fighters because of those two fights. They displayed heart, skill, will and determination,” Hopkins told me over the phone less than a week after the
were as impressed. “I didn’t see the first fight, and if the rematch was anything to go by, I’m glad I missed it,” laughed acclaimed coach Buddy McGirt when I called him at his gym in Florida. “They’re both good fighters, don’t get me wrong. Beterbiev is a good fighter and Bivol is a good fighter. But to call them great … no. To call them great is an insult to Roy
running. Let’s be realistic now … [Bivol] was literally running. When you say boxing, you look at a guy like Sugar Ray Leonard; he’s moving, throwing combinations – that’s boxing.” You might be taken aback by McGirt’s review of the rematch and its participants. Many have tabbed the Beterbiev-Bivol sequel as a Fight of the Year contender. However, McGirt has forgotten more about boxing than most of us will ever know and has earned his stripes. Outside of being a world- class trainer, the amiable New Yorker is a former two-weight world champion
of the game, is wrong on this one. He is wrong on this one. Buddy is getting old. (laughs) “If you judge the fight on how adjustments weren’t made, even though the winner wasn’t given a clear path to dictate anything, there were close rounds where Beterbiev and Bivol had to do a little bit more just to win a round. Those rounds were so hard to judge based on punch output and who got the better of those rounds. “When Bivol did good in the first minute and a half, Beterbiev came on and the crowd became excited
and when I mentioned Roy Jones vs. Antonio Tarver being the last significant light heavyweight trilogy, he wouldn’t hear of it. McGirt trained Tarver for all three of those fights. McGirt: “No comparison at all. Realistically, would you want to see a third fight [between Beterbiev and Bivol]?” The Ring: “I would. And I need to be honest, Buddy: If you’re asking me that question, I didn’t want to see Tarver vs. Jones 3. Antonio had made his mark. In my opinion, he beat Jones the first time, knocked him spark out the second time, then Jones was knocked out by Glen Johnson. There was no need for a trilogy.” McGirt: “I agree with that one thousand percent. But my question is this: Why would you want to see a third fight [between Bivol and Beterbiev]?” The Ring: “I thought Bivol edged the first fight and Beterbiev got the decision. In the rematch, Bivol got the decision, but it was still very close. I don’t think we can say, definitively, who the better man is. The third fight decides the best light heavyweight of this generation.” McGirt pondered my reasoning for a moment before committing to an answer. “I’ll agree with you on that, yes,” he said. “Whoever wins the trilogy is the best light heavyweight of this generation.” When I dictated this conversation to Hopkins, the former champ opened up on McGirt and me. “Tarver destroyed Roy Jones. I’m surprised that you or Buddy offered the comparison,” barked Hopkins in disbelief. “Roy was knocked out by Glen Johnson before the third fight. I mean, c’mon, man; I know my stuff, and I do a lot of research. “Bivol and Beterbiev are gonna go down as great fighters based on what will, hopefully, be the three fights that they’re gonna complete. Both of those guys want to be 2-1 up on the trilogy.” It should be pointed out that McGirt was in Riyadh to work the corner of
bout. “There’s no loser in those fights, and they’re one-and-one now. “Both of them are my brothers. I respect them. I hope they fight again, because we don’t get fights like this all the time. Back in the day, we had Ali vs. Frazier, then we had Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti. Now we got Beterbiev-Bivol and a trilogy coming soon in 2025.” Lofty praise indeed from Hopkins, who is renowned for being a straight shooter when it comes to the ring exploits of others. In the past, the ex-champ has even risked business relationships with fighters he promotes in favor of honest self-expression (see Ryan Garcia). If the outspoken Hopkins saw reason to be critical of Beterbiev and Bivol, then you can bet your bottom dollar that he wouldn’t have held back. However, not all former champions
A sharp-dressed Bernard Hopkins offers some sharp-tongued advice from ringside at the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 card.
and energized. A lot of times in close rounds, the judges are swung by 30 seconds of punching and the crowd yelling, especially when the first minute and a half were back and forth. You need to figure out who won those rounds, and [some people will go by the last thing they heard and saw]. Those championship rounds were just like that.” As Hopkins stated, he is gung ho on a Bivol-Beterbiev rubber match and foresees more of the same if it becomes a reality. “The second fight warrants a third fight. It will be just as hard to score, and it will take a toll on both guys’ health,” he said. Meanwhile, McGirt has no interest in fight three,
Buddy McGirt and light heavyweight contender Callum Smith.
Jones; it’s an insult to Ezzard Charles; it’s an insult to Archie Moore; it’s an insult to Antonio Tarver; and it’s an insult to Michael Spinks. To call these guys great is an insult to the greats. Are they good? Yes, they’re good fighters. They’re very good fighters; I give them that. Great? No. “Great fighters make adjustments in the heat of battle. Nobody made adjustments [in the rematch]. The only difference, from what I heard, is that Bivol threw more punches than he did in the first fight. But for the first six rounds, it was like [Beterbiev] was chasing a rabbit. That’s my opinion. You’ve got boxing and you’ve got
and a Hall of Famer. At the height of his career, during the early 1990s, this man was rated within the top 5 best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, according to The Ring. Having spoken to McGirt first, I informed Hopkins of his friend’s take on Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 and began to go through Buddy’s reasoning. “Can I give my rebuttal?” said Hopkins before he’d heard everything. “You need my rebuttal. Buddy McGirt, as much as I respect him as a teacher
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