History, gold, and legacy—there are few times when you see all the factors colliding and coming together for one fight. But that is the case with Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, as they chase the coveted title of undisputed light heavyweight champion, a title last held by Roy Jones Jr. That’s not all. It’s a clash of styles, a showdown of mentality, and two contrasting principles. But who will walk away with all the marbles at 175 and add a unique distinction to their resume of being the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt era?

It will all go down this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh on October 12. The fans are excited to see what the two champions will bring to the ring on the fateful night. Before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol: Tale of Tape

Bivol, 33, has mesmerized the fans and pundits with his technical prowess and his skilled and beautiful old-school Soviet boxing style has made him a top fighter to look out for. The Tokmak native has racked up an impressive and unblemished record of 23-0 with 12 KOs and a KO ratio of 52.17%. What’s more? He has carved a reputation for unleashing punishment and breaking down his opponents instead of getting involved in close exchanges.

Dmitry Bivol also utilizes his height of 6’0″ (183 cm) and reach of 72″ (183 cm) to create distance, step back and launch effective jabs. Those dimensions also help him draft a better and more adaptive game plan. He is known for having the best stiff jab in the game today. As a result, many experienced and skillful boxers, including Canelo Alvarez have found it difficult to launch effective attacks against him. However, it might all go for a toss against Artur Beterbiev.

The unified champion, at 39, is more experienced and has fought more fights under his belts. He has ensured his fights never go the full distance and that he doesn’t have to rely on the judges’ scorecard for a favorable result. Notably, like Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev also holds an undefeated record with 20 wins. But the stark difference is his aggressive fighting style and his penchant for knockouts, as suggested by his 100% KO ratio. In addition, he carries a daunting persona with his staggering tall stature of 5’11½” (182 cm) and also edges out the WBA champion when it comes to reach advantage. His long levers have a reach of 73″ (185 cm) allowing him to land his punches first. He is also effective in cutting off escape routes of opponents trying to evade the barrage of powerful punches.

This size and power advantage puts him at the front and from a fans’ perspective. But that’s not how it goes down inside a boxing ring. Therefore, the question is who wins in a battle of skills and power?

Prediction: Where will the fight be won?

Roy Jones Jr. has pointed out an interesting fact about Artur Beterbiev during the fight’s buildup. He has taken a knee in his professional career twice already, which according to Jones Jr., could be suggestive of his inability to take the heavy punches he unloads himself. While he might not have to worry about it in the fight against Dmitry Bivol, he might have other concerns.

The latter tends to fight on quick feet, has good movement, and a lethal jab that could neutralize Beterbiev’s strength. Besides, he has been elusive throughout his career, as he has kept an unbruised face despite some high-octane fights. When you remember his fight with Canelo Alvarez and the class he showed in that fight, you take him as a serious contender to bag the win.

However, Artur Beterbiev is different from Bivol’s past opponents. He has the ability to force his will on his foes and his power and strength do the job for him. You always need something special to tame a beast like him and Dmitry Bivol possesses all those qualities. If he can take the fight to the final bell, he has more chances of getting his hands raised. But does Dmitry Bivol has the chin to endure Beterbiev’s initial onslaught and exchanges?

That’s where the fight will be decided and it’s a really close fight to call. Given Bivol’s boxing IQ, his technicality, and the fact that he is in peak physical condition because of his recent fight against Malik Zinad, we have him winning all the gold straps at 175. But Artur Beterbiev has the power to shatter through every fighter’s defense and shield and that can happen this Saturday too.

What do you make of this coming fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol? Who do you think will leave the arena as victor? Let us know in the comments below.